iPodlounge Buyers` Guide 2004

Transcription

Over
200
iPod Accessories
Rated
iPodlounge
Buyers’ Guide 2004
Inside: Award-winning iPods and accessories
Apple’s new 60-Gigabyte iPod Photo and U2 iPod
Free iPod software, support, and chat forums
How-to Transfer music from iPod to PC and Convert your WMAs to iPod
Contest winners, photo galleries, the history of the iPod, and more!
Issue 01 | November 2004
Photo Courtesy Apple Computer
From the world’s leading independent source of iPod information
iPodlounge Buyers’ Guide
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Sportsuit
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Sportsuit Runabout
Sportsuit
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Sportsuit Safari
Sportsuit Santa
Sportsuit Sleeve
Introducing iPodlounge | 4
About the world’s number one iPod resource.
Meet the Editors | 6
Editorial words and the editors who edit them.
Rugged, stylish protection
Breaking News | 7
Taken from the pages of iPodlounge.com.
The iPodlounge Gear Guide | 8
Short previews of upcoming iPods and accessories.
Edgy, urban cases
Buyers’ Guide 2004 | 16
The world’s best iPod accessories, recommended.
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The iPodlounge Report Card | 48
The letter grade chart for all of the products
iPodlounge has reviewed since 2001.
Removable armband included
A Brief History of iPod | 50
Become an instant expert in iPod milestones and trivia.
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Backstage at iPodlounge | 54
The secret iPodlounge page that leads to behind the
scenes updates from iPodlounge’s editors.
iPods Around the World, and other Galleries | 56
The world-famous iPodlounge galleries, featuring
user-submitted photography and art.
Removable armband included
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GALLERIES
2004
Above:
“Obsession” by Slavik Boyechko
May 2004 iPodlounge
“Me and My iPod” Contest Winner
iPod 101 & 201 | 66
Transferring files from iPod to computer, and more.
Help! at iPodlounge | 68
FAQs, Tips and Tricks, and Links to helpful sites.
Inside:
Award-Winning iPods and Accessories
including Apple’s new iPod Photo | 20
Contour Design’s Showcase 4G | 30
BTI’s The iPod Battery | 44
Joining the Discussion Forums | 70
A brief guide to the world’s largest
interactive resource for iPod owners.
Free and Shareware iPod Software Catalog | 72
Easy-to-use Windows, Mac, and other programs
for the easiest-to-use digital music player.
ON THE COVER
Classic, Elegant, One-of-a kind
leather case for your iPod
Gallery: The Buyers’ Guide Cover Contest | 65
Top entries in iPodlounge’s latest photo and art contest.
The cover of the iPodlounge Buyers’
Guide 2004 was drawn by contest
winner Mark Kempken of Germany,
who wins a pair of Ultimate Ears UE-10
Pro headphones (retail: $900) for his
submission. Congratulations!
Rhyme Gallery | 74
Index to iPodlounge Reviews and Articles | 79
Index to Advertisers | 79
Closing the Curtain | 80
C.E.O. Classic
3
GALLERIES
INTRODUCTION
Introducing iPodlounge. The world’s number one iPod information
resource goes retro for the holidays with a magazine-style edition.
It’s fair to say that the world was
preoccupied with other issues when
Apple introduced the original fivegigabyte iPod on October 23, 2001.
Shocked by recent terrorist attacks in the
United States and reeling from the early
effects of an global economic downturn,
most people were thinking of anything
but music and luxury goods, let alone
$399 combinations of the two.
Thankfully, iPodlounge’s founder Dennis Lloyd - an Apple
fan, graphic designer and former Los Angeles-area DJ thought different. Having registered the iPodlounge.com
domain immediately after the iPod’s debut, he set out to
create a news resource and forum-based community for
iPod owners and admirers.
By Fall of 2003, iPodlounge had almost all of the features
for which it is now known: its amazing iPods Around the
World photo galleries, tens of thousands of discussion
forum participants, and its daily iPod news updates. The
world’s best team of moderators kept iPodlounge’s evergrowing forums under control, and reader contributions to
iPodlounge skyrocketed.
When Senior Editor Jeremy Horwitz joined the staff, he
retooled iPodlounge’s reviews, feature articles, and other
editorial content. The collaboration between Dennis and
Jeremy yielded iPodlounge Backstage, new contests, the
iPod Concepts gallery, and numerous “ease of use” site
improvements. iPodlounge was almost perfectly poised for
the explosion of the iPod’s popularity in late 2003.
Almost. By early 2004, iPodlounge was so popular that its
web servers couldn’t keep up with demand. Today, with
new servers, iPodlounge is read by over 1.2 million users a
month and, thanks to both fantastic readers and
comprehensive information, boasts greater web traffic
than sites affiliated with long-established magazines.
The iPodlounge Buyers’ Guide 2004 is our way of saying
“thank you” to our readers while tinkering with an oldschool magazine format. You have supported iPodlounge
through thick and thin, so we hope that this Guide gives
you all the information you need to pick all the iPod
goodies you want for the holidays.
Dennis Lloyd and Jeremy Horwitz
for iPodlounge
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GALLERIES
INTRODUCTION
1 | iPodlounge Logo
1
2 | Navigation Bar
2
3 | Search Window
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4
3
4 | Articles and Reviews
5 | iPods Around the World
6 | New Users’ Guides
5
7 | iPod Help
8 | Key Feature
6
9 | iPodlounge Backstage
10 | iPod and Site News
8
7
11 | Contest Banner
12 | Site Advertisers
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12
10
We’re constantly tweaking iPodlounge.com’s web site,
so even though an overhaul of the site’s main page is
planned for the near future, the sections you see above
will remain the same. All are represented in this Guide.
What started out as a rounded orange box has evolved
into the current iPodlounge Logo (1), an image of a little
white music player relaxing on a lounge chair. Despite
having been tweaked and re-drawn by readers in both
2-D and 3-D, the logo above remains Dennis Lloyd’s
favorite rendition. And we’re not in any position to
convince him otherwise.
The iPodlounge Navigation Bar (2) provides one-click
access to all of iPodlounge’s main site sections and subsections. News links to an archive of iPod news dating
back to late 2001; Articles includes Editorials, Features, First
Looks, Interviews, iPod 101 and 201, and Reports; the Gear
Guide includes short previews of iPod accessories and
full-fledged Reviews of those accessories; Help includes
FAQs, Tips + Tricks, Links, and iPod Battery information;
Forums provides direct access to iPodlounge’s discussion
forums and registration pages; Gallery links to the iPods
Around the World and other iPodlounge Photo Galleries;
Downloads contains free iPod files for PCs, Macs, and Linux
machines; About Us discusses the history of iPodlounge,
its User Group, and its key contributors.
Searching iPodlounge is easy with the Search Window (3). Type a single-word
phrase to search the site’s database of over 5,000 articles, or use Advanced
Search for more options, including multi-word and title/body searches.
Articles and Reviews sections (4) spotlightour newest featured articles (such
as iPod 101 and iPod 201 guides), plus our newest iPod and iPod mini reviews.
A photo link to the iPods Around the World Gallery (5) is easy to use. Below
it, we link to our New Users’ Guides for the iPod and iPod mini (6), with
some common help topics below that (7).
IPodlounge uses the bottom of its Featured Articles box to spotlight the latest
and greatest iPod hardware or major story, including all of our best
information on that subject (8).
A blue link to iPodlounge Backstage (9), our editors’ blog, hides a wealth of
behind-the-scenes and advance information.
Daily iPod news updates (10) appear in headline form here, and in full versions
below. News about the iPodlounge web site, including User Group meetings
and giveaways, appears at right. We always have a banner leading to our most
recent giveaway or contest (11), featuring accessories or special edition iPods.
And finally, iPodlounge appreciates the support of its advertisers (12), so even
if we’re tough on them once in a while in our reviews, it’s always safe to visit
their web sites and look around.
5
INTRODUCTION
GALLERIES
Meet the Editors. One editorial, a team of Editors, and a lot to look
forward to in the year ahead.
If iPodlounge’s editorial staff had placed wagers on the
events to come in 2004, no one would have put money
on the introduction of four totally new iPods in just
one year. But it happened. From the iPod mini ($249)
to the fourth-generation iPod ($299 and up) to the
black iPod U2 Special Edition ($349) and iPod Photo
($499 and up), Apple not only replaced the entire thirdgeneration iPod lineup, but completely changed our
conceptions of the iPod brand.
For now at least, the iPod mini has become Apple’s entry
level platform, smaller and lower in capacity than any
other iPod. The fourth-generation iPod is now at the
middle of the company’s product line, with a $299 entry
price point and more than enough storage space for
most users’ music. iPod Photo devices are now Apple’s
premium iPods, equipped with color screens, better
batteries, and the biggest hard drives - with the biggest
prices (up to $599). Finally, the Special Edition iPod surely not just a one-time affair - represents a relatively
inexpensive way to get an iPod that’s collectible,
physically special, and tied in with a band or similar
partner. Widely respected in the music world and by
millions of fans, U2 just happens to be an ideal starting
point for that series.
Of course, the challenge for Apple has never been in
appealing to the high-end of the market; rather, it’s
about winning over a notoriously price-sensitive
mainstream audience while driving a stake through
cheaper, inferior knockoffs. Several analysts claim that
Apple is planning to address that need by introducing
an even cheaper version of the iPod - call it the iPod
Micro for lack of a better name - based on flash memory
rather than a hard drive. And there have been persistent
rumors since the introduction of the iPod mini that
Apple planned a quick $50 price drop by Summer 2004,
to bring that hardware down to only $199.
Instead, iPod sales have been astonishingly robust, and
not only didn’t Apple drop the iPod mini’s price, but they
neither increased its storage capacity nor even needed
to push it heavily after its introduction. Domestic U.S.
sellouts of the iPod mini were almost instant, based on
word of mouth and building media buzz for the iPod
platform. International sellouts rapidly followed when
Apple had enough minis to ship to other countries.
It’s not a complete surprise, then, that the Apple showed
no fear in pushing an iPod Photo at the highest iPod
price to date - $599. Sure, Apple won’t sell a billion at
that price, but surely die-hards - like us - will buy them.
That said, iPodlounge still believes that expansion of the
iPod platform to its next stage of popularity will involve
more affordable iPods, not more expensive ones. In early
January of 2005, we’ll see if Apple agrees with us.
6
Dennis Lloyd
Publisher
Jeremy Horwitz
Senior Editor
BREAKING
GALLERIES
NEWS
Breaking News
The latest updates on iPod hardware, accessories, and software,
from iPodlounge.com’s global news pages.
A passionate, long-time lover of Apple products,
Dennis Lloyd (dennisl@ipodlounge.com) was
a graphic designer and DJ before creating
iPodlounge. Dennis directs the site’s news,
forums, photo galleries, iPodlounge User Group,
and general business affairs, which have grown
under his watch to include over a million readers
and numerous accolades. Happily married with
zero children, one dog (Rocket the Wonderdog),
one cat (Ferris), five iPods, and two turntables, he
lives in and loves Irvine, California.
Jeremy Horwitz (jeremy@ipodlounge.com)
has written about electronic entertainment for
publications ranging from Electronic Gaming
Monthly to The New York Times, having founded
and edited Ziff-Davis’ Intelligent Gamer magazine.
A cum laude graduate of Cornell Law School and
author of the book Law School Insider, Jeremy
presides over iPodlounge’s editorial content,
focusing special attention on new technologies
and iPod reviews. He lives with girlfriend Heather
and Siberian Husky Sake (Sah-kay) in Irvine, CA.
Larry Angell
joined iPodlounge
in 2004 to add
additional iPod
news coverage
to the site’s main news page. He
has written about Apple products for years at MacMinute.com,
owned every generation of the
iPod, and spends way too much
money at the iTunes Music Store.
Jerrod Hofferth
is an iPodlounge
Contributing
Editor and Forum
Administrator. As an
Aerospace Engineering major at
Arizona State University, Jerrod
enjoys spending his free time
both with his girlfriend of six
years and new 15” Aluminum
Apple PowerBook.
Contributing Editors, Forum Administrators & Moderators:
Hadley Stern, Austin Agarwal (iamaustin), Bob Levens (MadPict), John
(eustacescrubb), Mike (MikeM), Tom Tracy (tntracy), Aaron Steele (AaronS),
Andy (AndyH), Adam Shawley (ashawley), Kurt (c.c.r.), Cate (caterinka),
Deeq (deeq), Douglas Adams (Doug Adams), Alicia (ginalee), Prithvi
(m.r.m.), Bill (SouthsideIrish), Albert (yinyang), Audrey (honeybee1236).
The iPodlounge Buyers’ Guide 2004 is published by iPodlounge.
com (“iPodlounge”) and is Copyright (C) 2004. All rights reserved. No
part of this publication may be reproduced, sold, or transmitted in any
form, or by any means whatsoever, without the prior written consent of
iPodlounge. Unauthorized sale of this publication is prohibited, and by
accessing this publication, you agree not to violate these restrictions.
iPodlounge is an independent source of information on the iPod digital
music platform and has no affiliation with Apple Computer, Inc. iPod, iPod
mini, iPod Photo, iTunes, and related marks are the registered trademarks
of Apple Computer, and all other names and marks contained herein are
the property of their respective owners.
Apple grows iPod family by three, sales by millions
Surprise introduction of high-end iPod Photo accompanies launch of U2 iPod and dramatic sales announcement
It was supposed to be a small day in iPod history - Apple was
going to announce a partnership with U2 to promote the
release of the band’s new album, How to Dismantle an Atom
Bomb, roll out a black version of the iPod, then hype the
addition of a handful of countries to the iTunes Music Store.
Apple quickly shocked the crowd with the iPod Photo ($499$599, see both of the Guide’s next sections), an improved
iteration of the fourth-generation iPod with a color screen,
15-hour battery life, and 40- or 60-Gigabytes of storage space.
Capable of displaying digital photos and album artwork, the
iPod Photo was already shipping to stores that day, Jobs said.
But following the presentation of some impressive iPod sales
statistics, showing an installed base of six million iPods as of
the third quarter of 2004, Apple’s presentation took a sharp
and unexpected right turn into silliness. CEO Steve Jobs
heralded the November release of iPod Socks ($29.00), a
three-pack of soft, brightly colored iPod carrying cases
jokingly described as “revolutionary.” Though Apple’s audience
at the California Theater in San Jose, CA laughed along with
Jobs, they also began to suspect something big was coming.
Though attendees enjoyed a live acoustic performance from
U2’s Bono and The Edge, the iPod U2 Special Edition ($349,
previewed next section) was comparatively unsurprising.
Despite its uniquely shiny black front plate and bandengraved chrome rear, it is based only on the low-end, blackand-white 20GB iPod. Besides U2’s engravings and an in-box
$50 coupon towards the purchase of a $149 U2 Digital Box
Set, its only attraction for buyers is a packed-in U2 poster.
HP mixes iTunes, Windows XP Media Center OS
Apple expands iTunes Music Store, renews iTunes
As the only Windows PC maker
selling iPods, Hewlett Packard
has introduced HP Tunes, a
feature that permits iTunes
playlists and songs to play back
through PCs using Microsoft’s
Windows XP Media Center
operating system. Media Centerequipped PCs can be remote
controlled and used as centerpieces of home stereo setups,
but as yet have not proved
Coinciding with the launch of its
new iPods, Apple expanded the
iTunes Music Store across the
European Union, opening local
stores in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Portugal and Spain,
each with €0.99 per song pricing.
Apple also introduced iTunes 4.7,
an upgraded version of its music
software, discontinued support
for prior versions, and promised
popular by comparison with
standard Windows XP-ready
personal computers.
a November launch for a
Canadian Music Store. An Irish
launch was postponed.
iPodlounge provides up-to-the-minute iPod news on its front page at iPodlounge.com, plus a complete archive of
news stories dating back to the earliest days of the iPod (2001) at iPodlounge.com/archives.php.
7
GALLERIES
PREVIEWS
iPodlounge Buyers’
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
The iPodlounge Gear Guide
Start drooling now over these brand
new products, but wait for our official
reviews before you buy them.
Apple Computer’s iPod U2 Special Edition
Until now, if you wanted a black iPod, you painted it yourself or paid
ColorWare to do it. Now Apple’s releasing the iPod U2 Special Edition
($349), a.k.a. the U2 iPod, a black fourth-generation, 20-Gigabyte iPod
with a red Click Wheel instead of the standard gray. Collectible if for
no other reason than its unique color, the U2 iPod will hold additional
appeal to fans of the rock group for which it is named: the signatures
and names of U2’s Bono, Larry Mullen, Adam Clayton and The Edge are
Apple Computer’s iPod Photo
Long rumored, Apple’s iPod Photo (40-Gigabytes, $499; 60Gigabytes, $599) materialized as an iPod fan’s dream - same
footprint, more battery life (15 hours for music, up from 12 in
current full-size iPods and 8 in older iPods), a color, higherresolution screen (220 x 176 with 65,536 colors, up from 160
x 128 and 4 grays), plus video-out capability. Apple’s created
a new iPod interface with smoother fonts, cool colors, and
more graphics to take advantage of the new screen.
engraved on the back, along with a U2 logo and the phrase “iPod
Special Edition.” Other than its case, the U2 iPod is internally the
same as any other 20-Gigabyte fourth-generation iPod,
featuring a four-grayscale screen rather than a color one, and the
thinnest full-sized iPod body to date. It also comes with a free U2
poster and a not-as-cool-as-it-sounds $50 coupon towards the
purchase of a U2 box set, as further explained below.
How to Sell a Digital Box Set
But as its name implicitly suggests, there’s no video: the iPod
Photo stores digital photos and displays them either on its
own screen or a TV (using AV cables and/or the new iPod
Photo Dock, both included). More precisely, you need to use
iTunes 4.7 to convert photos before the new iPod can display
them, a possible no-no for serious photographers.
Contrary to rumors
that circulated on the
Internet before the iPod
U2 Special Edition was
debuted, no music will
be pre-loaded on the
new device - not even
the band’s new album,
How to Dismantle an
Atom Bomb, which
was originally believed
to be a packed-in perk
and the reason the unit wouldn’t ship until mid-November. Instead,
buyers will get a a $50 coupon (shown, bottom left) towards a new
iTunes Digital Box Set titled The Complete U2 ($149.00) with over
400 U2 tracks - every U2 album, plus rare and previously unreleased
songs. Presumably Apple will offer more such box sets containing
the backcatalogues of major artists, and perhaps additional Special
Edition iPods to accompany them.
U2 iPod Photos Courtesy of Apple Computer
Photo Courtesy of Apple Computer
GALLERIES
PREVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
All the iPod Photo’s new features come at some cost - not
just the extra $100 to $200 you’ll shell out over standard iPod
prices. The iPod Photo is a wee bit thicker than an iPod (0.75”
instead of the 40GB iPod’s 0.69”), weighs 0.2 ounces more,
takes an extra hour (five total) to recharge its battery, and
since photos and audio share its memory, has slightly less
audio skip protection (17 minutes versus 25) than before.
They’re trivial compromises given the iPod Photo’s new
capabilities, but worth noting. You can read our full review of
the iPod Photo - with far greater detail - in the next section.
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GALLERIES
PREVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Speaker Systems
Power Sources
It’s true that any set of speakers with an audio-in port
can be used with the iPod, but a number of dedicated
iPod speaker systems have proved better physical
matches than the rest. Almost all are white in color,
while only some include iPod charging docks, remote
controls, and battery-operated portability. Here are
several that we haven’t reviewed yet.
If Family Feud surveyed the top complaints about older
iPods, battery issues would top the list. Thankfully
virtually every iPod accessory maker has offered its own
solution to that problem, in the form of a car charger,
battery pack, or a similar-but-unique alternative. Having
gone through two generations already, the latest crop
of these products is far better than the last.
DLO iBoom
Belkin’s TuneBase
The car charger we most strongly
prefer is Belkin’s Auto Kit, and now
the company’s doing the concept
twice better - for iPod minis, at least.
The TuneBase ($49.99) does what
iPodlounge has been wanting for
ages, combining an iPod cradle and
charger with a gooseneck metal
mounting tool. Insert TuneBase into
your car’s power outlet and position
your iPod mini anywhere you desire with a stylish, iPod-matching design.
We haven’t tested the TuneBase yet
to ensure that it works as promised,
but if it does, you can bet that we’ll
clamoring for a version compatible
with full-sized iPods.
While the words “ghetto blaster” may have fallen out of
use during the political correctness fad in the 1990’s,
the good old boom box never went out of style. iBoom
($149.99) is the 21st Century white plastic evolution of
that concept, docking an iPod inbetween four speakers,
a digital FM radio, and a handle for “ease of portability.”
That’s right; iBoom runs on six old-school D batteries
(remember those?) or its included AC adapter, and may
be an even more attractive portable solution than Altec’s
inMotions. We haven’t tested the audio quality of iBoom
yet, but DLO promises 20 watts per channel of power enough volume potential for you to blast your music until
someone calls the cops.
GALLERIES
PREVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Better Energy Solio
Which iPod charger would you want
if you were trapped on a desert
island? Probably Better Energy
Systems’ Solio ($89.99). As the only
solar-powered iPod charger
available, Solio folds open and
charges in 8-10 hours off of the
sun (or 4 hours using AC power).
Then you get 9 or more extra hours
of playback from Dock Connector
iPods. It also charges phones.
Incase Charger
Known for iPod and iPod mini cases,
Incase is branching out with this
hybrid auto and home iPod charger
($49.95), which works with both
iPod and iPod mini hardware. Leave
Apple’s cables at home, and charge
the iPod wherever you go.
As the first iPod accessory from
Tekkeon, the MyPower MP1100
rechargeable battery pack and dock
($89.95) promises 32 hours of added
playback time for a fourthgeneration iPod, and includes lineout, mini-USB and FireWire ports on
its bottom. Four indicator lights let
you know how much power remains
in the battery, which clips on to the
iPod like a sleeve.
JBL On Tour
We loved JBL’s Creatures and liked
On Stage, so why would we need On
Tour ($99)? Unlike its older siblings,
On Tour is fully portable, highly sleek
and stylish, and cheaper than Altec
Lansing’s inMotion series. Plus, if you
Bose SoundDock
The name Bose inspires strong reactions from different
types of listeners, and the new SoundDock ($299) won’t
end their debate: it’s $100 more expensive than its closest
competitors (JBL’s On Stage and Altec Lansing’s
inMotion iM3), physically larger (6.7”x11.9”x6.5”), and
doesn’t offer any specific feature they lack. It’s also not
portable - it runs only off AC power. But it has a built-in
iPod dock, nice styling, and Bose’s large fan base on its
side. In our initial testing, its sound
proved clean and more bass-rich than
both On Stage and the iM3s, but we
liked the balanced sound of On Stage.
JBL’s Creature IIs offer similar and
perhaps better sound quality at a lower
price. We’ll have a full review soon.
10
want to use them with a desktop
or laptop, they’re designed for that,
too, and won’t look awkward. Sound
quality? Wait for our review.
Tekkeon MyPower
NewerTech UHC Battery
If your vintage iPod (the ones without
Dock Connectors) isn’t holding a
charge like it used to, NewerTech’s
Ultra-High Capacity (2100mAh)
Replacement Lithium-Polymer Battery
($39.99) will fire you up. Boasting 70% more power
capacity than Apple’s original iPod batteries, this
replacement part requires you to pop open your iPod, and
delivers up to 21 hours of playback. Dock Connector iPod
owners are already salivating.
Belkin TunePower
There are two ways to boost your
iPod’s battery capacity: add a
backpack, or replace the internal
battery. Belkin’s second-generation
iPod backpack, called TunePower
($99.99), adds 8-10 hours of juice to
any Dock Connector-equipped iPod,
and includes sleeves to fit 3G, 4G,
and mini iPods. If the price seems
steep compared to BTI’s iPod Battery
ii, remember, Belkin’s web site
sometimes offers 50% off sales.
11
GALLERIES
PREVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Cases
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
FrontField iPoDonuts
HP Printable Tattoos
Marware mini Cases
Since the inception of the iPod accessory market, the
bread and butter of that market has been cases. Not
surprisingly, iPodlounge has seen them all: silicone
rubber, soft plastic, hard plastic, neoprene, standard
fabric, custom fabric, metal, and composites thereof.
As you’ll note from the fact that these cases are at least
partially derivative of ones we’ve reviewed before,
There aren’t many surprises left in the world of cases,
but these are some of the new and interesting ones you
can look forward to seeing soon.
You already knew the iPod mini
was a “perfect stocking stuffer;” now
Marware’s providing the stockings.
The Christmas-themed Santa case
($19.95) complements two stylish
new striped fabric mini cases, the
sophisticated MetroVue (top, $39.95
for a three-pack) and rugged-looking
TrailVue (bottom, $29.95). MetroVue
and TrailVue feature clear plastic
interiors for easy iPod mini viewing
and use; Santa is a soft fabric sleeve.
Tunewear ICEWEAR 4G
As the first offering from a
new Japan-based
accessory designer, the
silicone rubber ICEWEAR
for the iPod mini was
impressive: icey clear with
unique ribs on its edges.
Now Tunewear has a
similar design for the fullsized 4G iPod (~$24.99).
Two slits in the back let
you use ICEWEAR on a
belt, too. All that’s missing
is screen and Click Wheel
protection.
MacSkinz PodSkinz 4G
Though Hewlett Packard
originally planned to launch
a distinctive blue-colored
version of Apple’s iPod, it
ultimately stuck with the
original and now iconic white
and clear acrylic iPod casing.
As an alternative for those who
wanted more colorful iPods,
HP debuted Printable Tattoos
($14.99/10), adhesive iPod
coverings that you can
customize with art of your
GALLERIES
PREVIEWS
choice or making using any
printer - preferably one with
colored ink. To support the
release of the stickers, HP set up
a gallery with musician-specific
tattoos at hp.com/music, including artists from Gwen Stefani to
Lloyd Banks and The Who. Since
they fit any 4G iPod, the Printable
Tattoos are one of the cheapest
ways to fully customize the front
of an iPod - except, and
unfortunately, its four corners.
They protect the Scroll Wheels
and Click Wheels of Dock
Connector iPods. They glow in
the dark. And they’re not hard on
the eyes. Japan-based FrontField’s iPoDonuts ($9.95 each,
including shipping and a clear
iPod screen protector) literally
fill the holes left by many iPod
cases, adding scratch protection
to the two key elements of any
iPod. They also provide a way for
iPod purists to whitewash the
gray Click Wheel of the 4G iPod.
Stickers, Stickers, Stickers
More decorative than protective, and then more light
scratch-protective than impact or knife-scratch
protective, the newest group of iPod coverings looks as
simple and low-tech as they come. But with smart use
of residue-free adhesives and interesting new printing
technologies, these stickers can add a little personal,
guilt-free touch to an iPod without screwing up its
polished casing forever.
Tunewear PRIE Podwallet
After releasing the superb iPod minicompatible PRIE cases, TuneWear
decided to take the idea a step
further with the PRIE Podwallet, a
substantially larger leather 4G iPod
case with room for iPod accessories,
credit cards, and business cards.
(The iPod’s covered by a clear vinyl
panel.) Like the other PRIE cases, the
Podwallets are available in multiple
(potentially confusing) versions - the
A Type case is smaller (8.2” x 5.1” x
1.2”), while the B Type case is longer
(8.9” x 5.1 x 1.2”) and includes Super
TUNEMAX, a 20-hour rechargeable
battery. Meshed pockets, quality YKK
zippers, and other little edges like a
pen holder and cable winder round
out both cases’ internal features. If
the Podwallet matches the superb
build quality of its predecessor, it
will be a winner, especially for those
who like the two colors: black and
hot pink.
Power Support Wheel Film
We’ve already reviewed and liked Power
Support’s white and transparent Wheel
Film for 3G and mini iPods. Now the
company is releasing some of the most
elaborate Click Wheel stickers available
anywhere, featuring color patterns and
artwork. Five Wheel Film stickers will
come in each $10 package; clear Film
comes with Power Support’s cases.
Plastic adhesive shells for the iPod aren’t common, and
MacSkinz has cornered the market. The company’s newest
PodSkinz ($50/set) are limited editions, featuring highly
detailed pieces of original artwork instead of the simple
patterns that graced earlier versions.
12
13
GALLERIES
PREVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Etymotic 6i Isolators
For years, Etymotic has quietly
produced some of history’s best
earphones, employing their
expertise in hearing aid
development to create incredibly
accurate in-ear buds. iPodlounge has
reviewed and loved the company’s
most expensive ER-4 series phones
($330.00), and now Etymotic is
releasing a cheaper pair specially
designed to match the iPod. The 6i
Isolators ($149.00) include the
obvious white cables and white
flanges - those little rubber parts that
fit in your ears - but use transparent
Global Source 9V Charger
housings for their audio drivers. The
result is only a step short of techno
high fashion, and though the price
tag will look steep to first-time highend earphone buyers, Etymotic’s
results are generally spectacular,
rendering sound considerably more
crisply and distinctly than uninitiated
users can imagine. The 6is include a
great case, cleaning tool, and
alternate flanges for a more
customized fit.
Altec InMotion Headphones
Sony MDR-EX81SL
Even though they fold closed in a vaguely yo-yo like way, their
original name (OYOYO YO302WHT) sounded like a massive
typographical error. But Altec Lansing wisely renamed them
InMotion Headphones ($35.00) in keeping with their other iPod
audio offerings. Each set comes with a clear plastic case that
holds the InMotions like sunglasses when folded. When you
want to put them on, unfold the four sections, and their band
will fall to the back of your neck as the earpieces slide over your
ears. Sound quality? We haven’t tested them yet, so we can’t
say. But they’re cute, white, and won’t break your bank
account - a reasonable alternative if you don’t like in-ear or
pricey headphones.
Granted, we might not be the
target market for such a device,
but Global Source’s 9-Volt
Emergency Charger ($17.49) for
Dock Connector iPods struck us
as just a little odd. Maybe it was
the screwdriver tip that’s
included for no apparent reason,
or the odd transparent panel
with no logo or markings
beneath. Or maybe it’s that
in 2004, you’re way less likely
to have a 9-volt than an iPod
emergency. But if you had the
battery, you could squeeze two
extra hours of iPod power from
it. Finally, we can reschedule that
camping trip...
Sony’s low-end headphones
have received plenty of positive
attention from iPodlounge,
and the company’s new EX81s
($59.00) will iikely win some
hearts, too. Having innovated
the most comfortable in-ear
rubber flange we’ve used, Sony’s
turned the earpieces upside
down for over-the-ear insertion.
They swivel to fit your ears, too.
Though most iPod accessories fit into neat categories,
the ones on this page just don’t: they’re some of the
more unique offerings we’ve seen. iPod stands are - for
the moment - a dying breed, replaced by Apple’s official
Docks, and only a few companies have been willing to
take risks on iPod-related novelty electronics and books.
That’s sure to change, but for now, here are some of the
more interesting and truly different items we’ve seen
recently, in no particular order.
When you purchased your iPod,
you probably weren’t thinking,
“now if only I had laser pointer
and flashlight attachments for
this thing...” But if you had them,
you know you’d be able to do
something funny or useful with
at least one of them. That’s the
appeal of Griffin’s iBeam ($19.99),
and our dogs already love us for
getting them.
iPod & iTunes HACKS
Back before there was this
thing called the Internet, most
people used things called books
to learn a lot about a specific
subject. And some people still
do. For them, Hadley Stern’s
iPod & iTunes HACKS ($24.95) is
a collection of”tips, tricks, and
trade secrets for getting the very
most from your iPod.” And some
of those tricks - including some
legitimate software hacks - will
actually surprise you.
Sony MDR-NX1
Pyrim Rock Docks
If the MDR-EX81 earphones
(right) don’t do it for you, Sony’s
MDR-NX1s ($55.00) just might.
Based on the same bass-heavy
in-canal earphones used in
Sony’s low-end MDR-EX51s, the
fashionable NX1s feature a neck
strap rather than ear cords, but
plastic earbuds might put off
those who prefer rubber inserts
(like us). Four colors are available.
You’ll only want the whites.
Pyrim’s Rock Docks ($29.9979.99) are stone-like desk
mounts for iPods. Made from
polished Dupont Corian, Rock
Docks feature your choice of
six stone finishes: red granite,
quartz, sandstone, limestone,
white stone, or granite.
14
Everything Else iPod
Griffin iBeam
iPod-Matching Earphones
As with speakers, virtually any set of earphones will work with the iPod,
but the demand for matching white cables has sparked a surprising
number of companies to offer iPod-friendly products. Even Sony has
gotten in on the racket with a low-end set of white earbuds, though
the best of this bunch may well be from Etymotic, a company you’ve
never heard of.
GALLERIES
PREVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
15
REVIEWS
GALLERIES
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
iPodlounge’s Buyers’ Guide 2004. A definitive
guide to the current-model iPods, accessories, and
related products we have tested and recommended.
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
REVIEWS
Buyers’
Guide
iPodlounge
Guide
iPodlounge
Buyers’
Guide
Picking your iPod. Still trying to decide which iPod’s
right for your personal needs? iPodlounge can help.
If you’re reading this Buyers’ Guide, there’s a good chance you have already
acquired the iPod of your dreams. But if you’re still on the fence or want
your second iPod, this first section will help guide you in the right direction.
Three versions of the iPod are now in stores, the iPod (now on its fourth
generation), the iPod mini, and the iPod Photo. Every iPod except the
iPod mini uses a white acrylic front panel and a chrome metal back panel.
The iPod Photo looks just like the iPod, but has a color screen and is slightly
thicker than the thickest standard iPod - 0.06 of an inch. Apple’s iPod mini
is even tinier than the smallest full-sized iPod, and is available in five colors
of anodized aluminum instead of plastic and shiny metal. Because they
scratch less easily, are smaller, and slightly less expensive, iPod minis have
proved very popular with female and younger buyers.
Aesthetics only tell part of the story. Most new iPod buyers are also
concerned about the number of songs each iPod can hold, their batteries,
pack-ins, and prices.
Storage. iPod minis hold around 1,000 songs
(80 CDs), while the 60GB iPod Photo holds
15,000 songs (1,200 CDs). Since it’s assumed
that the average person owns 100 (or fewer)
CDs, the 1,000 song iPod mini is a good first
purchase. But serious music lovers should
think bigger. Apple’s 1,000 to 15,000 song estimates are based on medium-quality music
recordings that sound great unless you have
$100+ headphones or connect your iPod to
speakers. Higher-quality recordings consume
50% or more space than the estimates above.
Also bear in mind that the larger iPods can
also store digital photos, act as voice recorders, and more, reducing the iPod’s music
storage capacity. The iPod mini isn’t the best
choice for iPod users with expansionist fantasies; consider a larger iPod Photo.
A
B
C
A grades are awarded only to Highly Recommended products,
B grades to Recommended ones, and C to average ones. No
D- or F-rated products are listed in the Buyers’ Guide.
16
What’s inside the Guide
The Buyers’ Guide includes five sections featuring the
top iPods and accessories we’ve reviewed.
Pages 17-21
Pages 22-33
Pages 34-39
Pages 40-43
Pages 44-47
Picking Your iPod
The World’s Best iPod Cases
Leading iPod Speakers and Headphones
Top iPod In-Car Accessories
The Best of the Other Accessories
Third-Generation (Discontinued) iPod
Fourth-Generation 20GB iPod
iPod Mini (Silver)
iPod mini
iPod 4G
(20GB)
iPod (4G)
40GB
iPod Photo
40GB
iPod Photo
60GB
4GB
(1,000)
20GB
(5,000)
40GB
(10,000)
40GB
(10,000)
60GB
(15,000)
Battery
8-10 Hours
12-13 Hours
12-13 Hours
15-17 Hours
15-17 Hours
Size &
Weight
3.6”x2.0”x0.5”
3.6 oz
4.1”x2.4”x0.57”
5.6oz
4.1”x2.4”x0.69” 4.1”x2.4”x0.75” 4.1”x2.4”x0.75”
6.2oz
6.4oz
6.4oz
Screen
1.67” b/w
2” black/white
2” black/white
2” color
2” color
Colors &
Materials
5
Aluminum
2
Acrylic+Metal
1
Acrylic+Metal
1
Acrylic+Metal
1
Acrylic+Metal
Key
Pack-In
Belt Clip
None
Dock
Dock, Photo
Cable, Cases
Dock, Photo
Cable, Cases
Price
US$249
US$299
US$399
US$499
US$599
B+
A-/B+
A-/B+
A-
A-
Capacity
(# Songs)
iPodlounge
Rating
Batteries. Every iPod includes a rechargeable battery which will last for
18-24 months (used normally) before replacement. Apple estimates that
an iPod mini’s battery will run for 8 hours before recharge, but we’ve seen
10-hour playback times. Similarly, the 20 and 40GB iPods promise 12 hours
before recharge, but they can go for over 13. iPod Photos run for up to 17.
How we grade
We fully explain our grading system at the end
of this Guide, but here’s a quick summary.
From left:
Pack-ins. The three models of iPod have the same core pack-ins: cables,
power adapters, white ear buds and software. But from there, they diverge.
Apple’s iPod mini includes a simple belt clip not sold for any other iPod.
The iPod 20GB includes nothing else, while the iPod 40GB includes a Dock
($39.00) (described on the next page). Each iPod Photo unit includes Photo
Cables and a Dock to permit TV viewing of digital photos, plus a soft carry
bag and a fabric carry case. No iPod includes Apple’s Remote ($39) control.
Screens. As the table above indicates, each of the three iPod models has
its own unique screen, and all are nicely backlit. The iPod mini’s smaller
black and white screen is easy to read so long as you don’t have a serious
visual impairment. While the full-sized iPod’s 2” black and white screen is
fine for even those with vision problems, the iPod Photo’s 65,536 color
screen is gorgeous, the best backlit of all, and even displays photos and art.
Prices. There’s only a $50 difference between the iPod mini and
the smallest iPod, and iPodlounge strongly recommends that
you spend the extra cash for 16-Gigabytes (4,000 songs) of
additional storage and better battery life. Only buy the iPod
mini if you love its small size. Similarly, the iPod Photo’s only
practical if you will use its photo or extra storage abilities.
Though we love their screens, the iPod Photos sell for $100$200 more than a 40-Gigabyte iPod - prices that will surely fall
in the near future. Also note that Apple will sell a limited edition
black-colored, 20-Gigabyte U2 iPod ($349) later in November.
Where to Buy. iPod discounts aren’t common, but recently
online retailers such as Amazon.com and Buy.com have cut 1015% off iPod and iPod mini retail prices. Hewlett-Packard’s iPods,
identical to Apple’s, have seen some of the most aggressive
discounting. Consider purchasing from a local retailer if you are
concerned about having to return or replace your iPod.
Other Notes. Read iPodlounge.com’s comprehensive reviews
before you buy any iPod. Abbreviated versions appear next.
17
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Apple iPod
(Fourth-Generation)
Judged in light of what came before, Apple’s fourth-generation (4G) iPod is a
fairly impressive piece of hardware. Modestly thinner than third-generation
iPods (bottom photo), the 4G iPods (20-Gigabytes, $299.00; 40-Gigabytes,
$399.00) include all of their predecessors’ best features: the longer battery life
of second-generation iPods, the sleeker curves, Dock Connector ports, and
storage of third-generation iPods, plus the iPod mini’s Click Wheel controls.
To a first time iPod buyer, then, the 4G iPod is virtually a no-lose proposition:
you get the most intuitive and ingenious digital music control scheme yet
devised, compatibility with an incredible array of accessories (including digital
photo storage and voice recording tools), free best-of-class music organization
and downloading software (iTunes), the ability to hold 5,000 or 10,000 songs
at a competitive price, and entirely practical (if not class-leading) battery life. It
doesn’t hurt that the iPods have iconic white plastic and chrome bodies, and
include nice earphones, USB and FireWire cables, and AC power chargers.
A- / B+
But the 4G iPod isn’t perfect. Its purple-on-white screen is a small step down
in looks and readability from its sharp black-on-white predecessor, and its
core music features have barely changed in years. Apple claimed the 4G iPod’s
“shuffle songs” feature was an innovation, but instead of adding user-requested
music features such as adjustable equalizers or full WMA support, Apple did
little more than move their old random ( “shuffle”) playback feature to the main
menu. Additionally, an audio defect affects some 4G iPod hardware, creating
slight but audible sounds of static and hard drive noise in the earphones each
time the iPod loads songs into its buffer. It doesn’t affect every 4G iPod, but if
you’re concerned, check iPodlounge for more information.
Pricing for these iPods remains exclusive: even the lowest-cost 4G iPod still
remains out of reach for a sizeable segment of the population. Apple touted
lower prices at the 4G iPod’s introduction, and though the price of a 20GB iPod
did fall from the third-generation’s $399 to $299, Apple stripped pack-ins from
its box, dropping its remote control ($39), Dock ($39) and carrying case ($39),
while adding only a USB cable ($19). Users got a net savings of $2. Wow.
Other than these relatively small issues, it’s hard to fault Apple for releasing a
modestly improved version of the awesome 3G iPod. There may be numerous
clones, but no other device touches the style, usability, and complete package
offered by the iPod and iTunes. Any alternative is guaranteed to be mediocre.
The mantra governing iPodlounge’s assignment of letter grade ratings to iPods
and iPod accessories is “be fair, retrospective, and comparative.” For new iPod
users, we rate the 4G iPod an A- : while it possesses the traits of an A product,
namely great design, nearly universal appeal, and good value for the dollar,
it’s not flawless. But experienced iPod users won’t find it a dramatic evolution
of the platform, and very serious music lovers like us will be concerned about
its minor but annoying audio issues. That aside, we feel certain that new iPod
owners will snap up virtually all that Apple can get in stores by year’s end.
Apple iPod Remote Get some distance from your iPod
B+
18
There was a time when a separate review of the iPod’s Remote ($39.00) would
not have been necessary for most new iPod buyers, but since Apple no longer
includes this accessory with any iPod, we’ll note our feelings here. The Remote
is little more than a small cabled chrome and plastic remote control with five
buttons (volume up/down, track forward/reverse, and play/pause) that surprise - control the iPod. On the back of the Remote is a large plastic
pinching clip that easily attaches to a shirt or jacket. In our experience, the
plastic parts have a tendency to develop surface cracks over time when
exposed to moderate heat (inside a car, for example), and the practical
utility of the remote is limited except under rare circumstances. There’s no
denying that the Remote is radically overpriced, even though it includes an
extra pair of the iPod’s pack-in buds. Apple really needs an LCD screenequipped remote, like those of its competitors, and a better price for this one.
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Given that its four-Gigabyte, 1,000-song storage capacity is one-fifth that of
the least expensive full-sized iPod, the iPod mini ($249.00) initially stuck many
(including iPodlounge) as a poor value relative to Apple’s other music players.
And it is in fact the lowest-capacity iPod ever introduced. But consumers were
won over more dramatically by the mini’s unique design than Apple or its
critics could have anticipated. Almost from its first day of availability, the iPod
mini has sold out wherever it’s been available, both domestically and
internationally. It helps that it’s currently Apple’s most affordable iPod, even
if it’s not the most fully featured.
Storage capacity aside, the iPod mini was the first Apple product to introduce
the Click Wheel, a brilliant combination of the earlier iPods’ touch-sensitive
Scroll Wheel with four depressable buttons on its north, south, west and east
sides. As the smallest iPod released to date - roughly the dimensions of a
business card, but with the thickness of a candy bar - it is even easier to toss
into a purse or pocket than a thin full-sized iPod. And its freckled, anodized
aluminum casing is infintely less scratchable than the polished acrylic and
metal surfaces of larger iPods. Its size, resilience, and ever-easier-than-iPod
control system makes the iPod mini an ideal exercise companion and starter
iPod for first-time digital music collectors.
Apple iPod mini
B+
A few other factors don’t hurt its appeal, either. Apple released the iPod mini
in five colors - silver, gold, blue, pink, and green - each with its own fashion
and demographic appeal. Better yet, the mini is almost completely compatible
with existing Dock Connector and top-mounting iPod accessories,
including some that work though they’re not officially supposed to. Support
from Apple’s third-party developers has been strong; new mini-specific cases
and electronics have flourished, with Altec Lansing’s inMotion iMmini speakers
even outperforming their fulf-sized iPod cohorts in our testing. And it goes
without saying that the iPod mini includes and works with Apple’s iTunes.
The mini does compromise the full-sized iPod experience in a few ways,
however, leaving aside the obvious storage difference. Its screen is a bit smaller, and though Apple partially compensated by using a more readable small
font, it displays one less line of text than the iPod. On a related note, its built-in
games, particularly Solitaire, aren’t as easy to see as on the larger iPod’s screen,
though they’re playable. And unlike the newest 4G iPod’s 12-hour battery, the
mini’s is only rated for 8 (rechargeable), though it lasted up to 10 in our tests.
These are minor points; our only real concern about the mini remains its value,
and despite its success, we still think the full-sized iPods are better buys. But
like the full-sized iPod, the iPod mini offers consumers a complete package everything you need, from hardware to cables, headphones, and great
software, is included in the box. For a small package with limited storage
capacity, it’s about as beautifully designed as it could get. Assuming you can
find one in a store, you’ll love it until it dies.
Apple iPod Dock Make your iPod stand up and talk from its bottom
Before the introduction of the iPod Photo, Apple included an iPod Dock with
its two highest-end iPods. Now the audio Dock comes only with Apple’s 40Gigabyte iPod, and is sold separately for the 20-Gigabyte iPod and the iPod
mini ($39.00). (A Photo Dock comes with every iPod Photo.) The white plastic
audio Dock enables the iPod to stand up on its bottom edge - “gently recline”
might be a more accurate description - and display its screen in a natural
position while charging, connecting to a computer, and/or playing audio.
Each Dock uses a gray rubber pad to grip a flat surface, and includes a line-out
port that pulls the cleanest possible signal from the connected iPod; the latter
feature makes additional Docks worthwhile attachments to your home stereo
system(s). Pacific Rim Technologies sells a cheaper and somewhat cheaperlooking alternative called the iCradle ($28.99), while SendStation’s PocketDocks
($18.95 to $29.95) are similar but substantially smaller Dock replacements.
B+
19
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Apple iPod Photo
(40/60-Gigabyte)
It’s hard not to love Apple’s iPod Photo ($499, 40-Gigabytes; $599, 60Gigabytes) at first sight. With a new color interface, over fifteen hours of battery
life, up to 15,000 songs of storage space and cool new pack-ins, the latest iPod
represents the future of the brand and the embodiment of many fans’ dreams.
But in an uncharacteristic break from Apple’s track record, the iPod Photo
hardware and software have some rough edges that will put off some
potential buyers. For a company increasingly attentive to the mainstream, the
new iPod is unquestionably a classic early adopter’s product - for now.
The iPod Photo’s positives are obvious. While preserving all the music functions
we enjoyed in the 4G iPod, and maintaining a virtually identical casing - only a
millimeter thicker, and a mere 0.2 oz. heavier than a 40GB model - it evolves the
user interface with color and graphics (below, left), adds photo display abilities
(next page), and includes enhanced versions of the iPod’s applications (below).
A-
But a simple recitation of features ignores how impressively executed most of
them are. By iPod standards, the new transflective color screen is gorgeous,
with bright colors and a strong backlight that keeps the screen evenly
illuminated. It’s two steps better than the quality black-and-white screens used
in last year’s third-generation iPods, but four steps above the less impressive
purple-and-white fourth-generation iPod screens. Apple’s new color user
interface is similarly a big, if evolutionary, step forward from iPods released only
four months ago; prior iPod owners will be envious within seconds of seeing it,
and we’re pretty sure it will be a standard iPod feature two years from now.
The new unit’s battery is another major plus, even if it modestly thickens the
iPod Photo’s case. Even those who don’t care about photos will love the extra
music playback - our first music-only test lasted 17 hours, six minutes, seriously
trumping Apple’s estimate, and iPod batteries often improve in later tests.
Though the Photo’s slideshow display ability (see next page) is a comparatively
modest 5-plus hours, that’s more than enough for most photo presentations,
or using the battery-draining accessories you’ll need for photo transfers.
Enhanced user interface
Except for the iPod Photo’s inability to fit in speaker systems with integrated
docks, our only issues with the iPod Photo’s music abilities carry over from
the 4G iPod. While we strongly emphasize that we love listening to music on
the iPod Photo, and that it’s an A-caliber product in that regard, the product
has not taken any steps forward in user-requested features such as adjustable
equalizers or support for other file formats. Album art displays would likely
have been far down the list. And we heard the same audio defect mentioned
in our 4G iPod review when testing the iPod Photo, only a fair bit quieter. It’s
aggravating in a $299 iPod, let alone a $599 one, and still needs to be fixed.
Familiar applications, new look
The iPod Photo’s new user interface isn’t a radical iconbased redesign of the old iPod menus. Instead, it adds
splashes of color, a classier font (Myriad), and Mac OS X
Aqua-inspired liquid scroll bars and progress indicators
to the familiar text-based iPod interface. Apple’s use of a
higher resolution screen (220 x 176 with 65,536 colors, up
from 160 x 128 and 4 grays) adds more detail and crispness to every menu. When you play back any song with
album art stored in iTunes - included with every Music
Store download - the cover appears on the iPod’s screen
during playback as an icon. Press the center button to
enlarge the art on the screen; additional presses move you
through place-in-song skipping and rating screens.
20
We’ll admit that we play Solitaire on any iPod we’re
carrying, and if you’re somewhat like us, you’ve used
at least one of Apple’s free games or applications
- Calendar, Clock, Contacts, Notes, Brick, Music Quiz,
Parachute and Solitaire. Each has received a more
than pleasant color and resolution facelift for the iPod
Photo, with Calendar and Solitaire looking the best of
all. Functionality wise, you’d be hard-pressed to find
major differences between these and their older iPod
equivalents, but the new screen does hold more text
for Notes and Calendar entries and display everything just a bit more clearly. And Apple modestly
changed the rotation controls on Solitaire - not for
the better, in our view. We continue to hope that the
company expands the suite of built-in programs; a
color visualizer and/or screensavers to go along with
music playback would be especially welcome.
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
And it plays back all your photos
Apple has music playback down
to a virtual science on the iPod,
but it’s a relative newcomer to
the portable photo storage and
playback market. Unfortunately,
this inexperience shows a bit in the
iPod Photo, which - at least for the
moment - suffers from some small
software and hardware limitations.
The iPod Photo’s good points are
numerous. Once you’ve transferred your photos
on to the device, you can create sequential
“slideshows” that display either on the device’s
screen or your TV. Slideshows can be slient or
accompanied by your choice of music, and
transition from shot to shot with smooth Star
Wars movie-style wipes. If displayed on the iPod,
the pictures take up the full screen, but if you’re
using a TV, the iPod becomes a remote control with the prior, current and
next pictures. In either case, the iPod’s forward button skips forward a photo,
reverse goes back a photo, play and pause and menu... you know. Play and
pause icons appear on-screen in Mac OS X bezeled form.
If you just want to view photos individually, the iPod Photo stacks 25 thumbnails to a page, and you scroll through by touching the Click Wheel. Despite
their small size and our concern that they’d be hard to discern from one
another, the photos are impressively identifiable. Scrolling through photos is a
little too fast, but otherwise fine; we’ll hope for a tweak in future firmware.
New Photo Dock and
iPod AV Cable
In addition to a carrying
case, soft carry bag, data
cables and a power supply,
two new pack-ins come in
every iPod Photo box. First
is the Photo Dock, which
looks just like Apple’s audio
Dock but contains a S-Video
port on its right rear side. SVideo input permits a TV to
display cleaner video than is
possible with a standard yellow-tipped RCA “composite”
video port. No S-Video
cable is included in the
package, however. Instead,
Apple includes a long, white
AV cable that plugs into the
iPod Photo’s headphone
jack (!) and outputs both
audio and composite video
to any television. The cable
looks cool, and works well
(see TV photo below).
Pictures look very good, but not spectacular on the iPod Photo’s screen, which
is around half the resolution (38,720 pixels) of screens commonly used in lowend digital cameras (78,000) and a third of mid-range ones (118,000). Images
are more than acceptable on the small screen and on TV, but aren’t stunning.
Some will gripe about the iPod Photo’s inability to transfer photos off of either
cameras or memory cards without the use of additional accessories. We agree.
Apple and Belkin have had a year to improve on their co-developed Media
Reader and Digital Camera Link accessories (see our reviews), and though
these devices do an acceptable job of transferring photos from cameras and
memory cards to iPods, they’ve been pooh-poohed by serious photographers
for slow speeds and iPod lovers for their battery drain. One of these
accessories, or something better, should have been in the iPod Photo box.
The other big issue: the iPod Photo currently needs a computer to pre-process
any picture before it appears on screen, and though Apple inexplicably uses
iTunes to handle the photo processing, it’s slow, non-iconic, and less intuitive
than you’d imagine. We needed the manual to find the photo transfer button,
which is hidden in an iTunes options menu. iTunes also failed to recognize our
iPod Photo as such until we restarted our Mac. And the (admittedly one-timeonly) 90 minute optimization time for a 2,500-photo collection was painful.
Expect three times the wait on a PC. Worse yet, photos transferred to the iPod
using Belkin’s accessories won’t display until run through iTunes. Ugh.
There’s little doubt once you’ve used the iPod Photo that its new screen and
interface will be in virtually every full-sized iPod Apple sells two or three years
from now, and by that standard, it’s an important product. Admittedly, its
limitations, combined with sticker shock over the 60GB version’s price, may
put some buyers off. But the 40GB version is a major step over last year’s $499
model, and a great value given all of its pack ins - Apple’s best iPod this year.
21
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
The World’s Best iPod Cases. From rubber to metal, these cases are
iPodlounge’s top picks for 3G, 4G and mini iPods.
Silicone Rubber Cases. Practical and inexpensive, these cases protect your iPod from
scratches without adding excess thickness or weight.
Lajo eXoFLP for 3G iPods
A
Power Support Silicone Jacket 4G
One of the most practical
silicone rubber case designs
we’ve ever reviewed is a product
from China-based manufacturer
Lajo. The eXoFLP ($21.50) is
just one of a confusingly huge
variety of cases sold by Lajo, but
has the best features of the rest:
great overall protection, thin
rubber coverage for the iPod’s
controls, and a flip-open bottom
panel to protect the iPod’s Dock
Connnector port. And it’s
available in a huge variety of
colors, including glow-in-the-
dark, pearlescent, transparent,
and opaque shades. The iPod
mini version, eXoFLPmini, is
equally excellent and virtually
identical. All that’s missing from
the eXoFLP design is integrated
iPod screen protection and
a packed-in belt clip, both of
which Lajo sells separately at
reasonable prices. Beware,
though: like the company’s
huge lineup of cases, its web site
(www.lajo.biz) is more than a bit
confusing.. You won’t find the
cases in most stores, either.
iSkin eVo 2 for 4G iPods
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
There’s an old saying - “rules are made to be broken” - that gets a bad rap
because so few people break the right rules in the right ways. The Square Type
Silicone Jacket Set ($22.00) from Power Support is one of the rare positive exceptions, breaking an iPod case design rule (“make it match the iPod’s curves”)
with a unique approach that works visually and practically.
Power Support Mini
Square Type Jacket
Square Type stands apart from myriad competitors because of its shape: using
square edges, the case is a perfectly rectangular rubber box, a perversion of
the iPod’s soft curves that frankly we could not have imagined would look so
good. It’s like a small block of frosted ice, turning the iPod mini’s metal edges
into almost prismatic shades of color, an undeniably cool effect in person.
Rubber square edges also just happen to add several extra millimeters of
thickness at points to the case’s anti-shock ability.
Each Square Type set from Power Support includes three pieces: the silicone
rubber case, one transparent screen protector called Crystal Film, and one
transparent Click Wheel protector called Wheel Film. Together, these three
parts cover the entire iPod mini save its top, Dock Connector port, and Action
Button, which is nearly the maximum amount of protection we’ve seen in an
iPod mini rubber case. Only the top is left fully exposed.
A
However, a millimeter or two of rubber lip separates that top edge of the case
from the mini, so even if the Square Type-encased mini were dropped on its
top, the case would absorb the blow. And the mini doesn’t fall out of the case
when it’s turned upside down – mostly because of the extra gripping strength
of the Square Type’s edges. This lip turns out to be as good of a solution as
we’ve seen for providing both true top-mounting accessory access and
adequate protection. Scratching of the top is our only remaining concern.
Dock Connector exposure is relatively minimal: the hole is just large enough
for Apple and Belkin accessory cables, thus proving perfect for our in-home
and in-car purposes, and good for most of the accessories we would advise
attaching to any iPod mini. Something a little bigger wouldn’t have hurt.
Given its price and appearance, we don’t hesitate to highly recommend this
protective and seriously interesting case design to any iPod user. With so many
boring iPod mini case clones in the marketplace, Power Support deserves
special kudos for taking a risk on something new and executing so perfectly.
Different advantages: eXoFLPmini and iSkin mini
AThere aren’t many rubber cases
available yet for Apple’s fourthgeneration iPod, but the best
we’ve tested so far is Power
Support’s Silicone Jacket Set
($29.00). Simple in execution, the
set is the only one we’ve used
that includes adequate
protection for the 4G iPod’s
body, screen, and controls,
thanks to included clear
adhesive film that helps to
22
B+
protect all the iPod’s surfaces. A
thin hole is left at the top of the
case to permit attachment of
top-mounting iPod accessories
such as Griffin’s iTrip and iTalk.
Separate versions for 20 and
40GB iPods let you guarantee a
proper fit - which is missing from
some competitors. More colors
would help, and we expect Lajo
will eventually offer better, but
today, this is a great alternative.
Canada-based iSkin has made
some of the best cases for each
generation of iPod, and its eVo
2 case ($29.99) is no exception.
Covering most of the iPod with
silicone rubber and using a nice
hard plastic screen protector, the
eVo 2 does good job of protecting the 4G iPod. There’s also a
unique thin top surface to let
you use top-mounting accessories without opening the case.
Like Lajo, iSkin offers a variety
of colors - though not quite as
many - and like Power Support,
iSkin gives you more than just
a rubber case for the price you
pay. But the eVo 2’s belt clip isn’t
that great, the packed-in clear
soft plastic case isn’t too useful,
and there’s no protection for the
iPod’s controls. Compared with
products we don’t recommend
here, eVo 2 is fantastic, but an
eVo 3 still could improve further.
Before the Square Type case came
along, our two top iPod mini cases
were Lajo’s oddly-named eXoFLPmini ($21.50) and the iSkin mini
($24.99) case, though each offered
different advantages. eXoFLPmini
fully covers the entire iPod save
its screen, and has a pop-open
bottom. It’s the only iPod mini case
with integrated rubber protection
for the Click Wheel, though Power
Support’s case includes film to
achieve the same purpose. iSkin
mini, by comparison, has no Click
Wheel protection, but has a special
thin rubber membrane at its top that
easily permits some top-mounted
accessories (not the iTrip mini) to be
connected without sacrificing any
protectiveness, plus includes a belt
clip. And like Power Support, iSkin
includes a screen protector - Lajo
makes you buy one separately, but
has a lower price to compensate. You
can decide which features suit you
better. We give the slight edge to
Lajo here, but think that iSkin’s case
is great, too.
A
eXoFLPmini
A-
iSkin mini
23
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Leather Cases. Less resilient than rubber, leather looks classier, but is often more
expensive. Our mid-range and high-end leather case picks follow.
Marware
C.E.O. Glove 3G
B+
Though Vaja dominates the market for high-end, high-priced leather cases,
our favorite leather case for the average 3G iPod user is Marware’s C.E.O. Glove
($27.95), a slim, smart design that does away with the flap-and-snap PDA case
trappings of its competitors, yet manages to look at least as professional. To
put our feelings in perspective, weve used and really liked leather PDA cases
before, including Vaja’s high-end Argentinian designs, but we always have a
hard time seeing the iPod wrapped up in something with a big front flap that
holds business cards and adds so much thickness.
Marware’s C.E.O. Glove eliminates these issues entirely. Though its black leather
won’t be confused with the thicker stock used by Vaja, the stitching, design
and overall synthesis of materials distinguishes the C.E.O. from cheap leather
goods like typical cell phone cases. Made in two sizes to fit thicker and thinner
3G iPods, the Glove case includes an ear-to-ear zipper that opens to neatly slip
the iPod inside. Inserting and removing the iPod is exceedingly easy, and the
zipper’s inside path is covered by fabric to prevent iPod scratching. Marware’s
fit and finish are handsome, and generally protective. Transparent plastic
shields the screen and the residual parts of the iPod’s front.
Unlike silicone rubber cases such as Lajo’s eXo2, the C.E.O. Glove doesnt cover
the iPod’s buttons or Scroll Wheel, but this won’t be a problem unless you keep
both your keys and iPod in your pocket. Another minor issue is that the Glove
leaves the headphone port and hold switch open with slightly unflattering
rectangular boxes that look to be hand-cut. We could imagine ways they could
look better, but its only a minor defect, especially considering that the C.E.O.
Glove is one of the only cases we’ve found to pass one of our pet peeve tests:
you don’t need to remove the case to use the iPod with either Dock
Connector or headphone port accessories. From iTrip to NaviPod remote
control to Belkin Voice Recorder, accessories fit on top without a problem, and
the zipper design lets you easily expose the bottom of the iPod to Apple’s Dock
or to in-car accessories. You mightn’t know how aggravating the alternative
can be, so Marware scored big points from us for this.
Our only complaint is actually mixed praise: Marware includes an impressively
strong belt clip that initially seems to snap so firmly on to the Glove that we at
first had trouble removing the clip, and nicked ourselves putting it on. But it
turns out that the clip rides on rails, and easily detaches with a button press you’ll need to use a pen to do that, though. Good thing; you won’t want to
keep the C.E.O. Glove on your belt. A case this slim can and does go into the
pocket, and it looks pretty cool when it comes out, too.
Cover your Scroll Wheel, thanks to Power Support’s Wheel Film
B
24
Wheel protection is the one feature most frequently missing from leather iPod
cases. Consider Power Support’s Wheel Film, now available in three different
sizes (3G, 4G, and mini) and multiple colors, some with printed images. While
pricey at $6.50 for a two-pack or $10 for a five-pack with sort of goofy designs
(including a roulette wheel), the Wheel Film definitely protects your iPod’s
wheel against scratches. You mightn’t even notice the Film is on your iPod,
especially if you use the transparent Film, which is only available for the 4G and
mini iPods. We also found that the transparent 4G and mini Film was
considerably easier to remove from those units than the 3G’s matte white
Wheel Film. Is it reusable? Expect each one to last until you peel it off.
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
PDA case vendor Sena’s new iPod mini Detachable Flip Cover Cases ($29.99)
are an interesting leather evolution of the two-piece Convertible case design
we liked from Marware. Adding little bulk to the iPod mini’s body, the first
piece of the Sena cases covers most of the front, back, bottom and sides of the
mini, leaving only the screen, Click Wheel, top and finger-grip sized holes on
the sides exposed. There’s no padding in the shell of the case, and only
modest hard reinforcement for the front and back leather pieces. A smaller
than normal Dock Connector hole at the bottom may pose a small challenge
to use with other than official Apple parts, but is fine for typical users’ needs.
Sena’s second leather part, called a Flip Cover, attaches to the inside top back
flap of the first piece with a strip of Velcro. The Flip Cover is nothing but a
reinforced semi-hard leather panel with a top hole for the headphone jack
and two small interior magnets that attach to similar magnets in the front of
the case. Though they protrude a bit from the case surfaces, the magnets do
work quite well to keep the case closed, and both a small embossed Sena logo
and a thin sheet of padding give the cover a little extra front-side refinement.
Together, the two pieces provide almost complete iPod mini protection, with
the side benefit of being separable whenever you desire. It’s a smart design, if
more than somewhat familiar.
On one hand, Sena’s web site doesn’t do justice to the cases: they certainly
look better in person, primarily because their colors are actually more subtle,
traditional matches for existing womens’ fashion accessories. The “red” case
for example is actually apple red, while the “yellow” case is actually closer to
mustard - the color, not the condiment. On the other hand, the leather, fit and
finish look pretty good but not quite up to Vaja’s gold standards, though there
is a fair price difference between the options.
Sena Detachable
Flip Cover Case
B
The Sena iPod mini Case is well-designed and nice to look at. We have no
problem recommending it to those who like mid-grade leather cases,
especially ones in colors that match other fashion accessories.
Global Source Deluxe Leather Case
Global Source’s first iPod mini product is somewhat mislabeled: called the
Deluxe Leather Case, the black leather case actually is a middle-of-road
product rather than a premium one. While competitively priced at $27.99, it
lacks some of the finer fit and finish of Vaja’s more expensive and competing
Classic mini case, yet is a good enough product to stand on its own.
Flip-front iPod cases aren’t our favorite designs, but Global Source’s design
is pretty good for the genre. It includes a flip-open front panel that shields
an iPod mini from scratches and light impacts, covers its Dock Connector
port, and always exposes its headphone jack. When closed, the iPod is amply
protected, but when open, there’s no screen or Wheel protection. There’s also a
detachable belt clip and removable brass nub, plus a magnetic lid lock.
Overall, the case is very protective, and is decently finished.
B
Because the lid opens from the bottom rather than the top, when the Deluxe
Leather Case is mounted on a belt and unlatched, the iPod mini hangs upside
down in its enclosure - a better viewing angle for the belt user, but not for
those who use their iPod minis primarily in vehicles. To expose the Dock
Connector port, you must keep the lid entirely open to plug anything into the
iPod’s bottom. For some users, this will be a trivial point, but having to keep
Global Source’s case splayed out in a car may bother others.
We continue to prefer Vaja’s iVod mini overall, but as low-priced options go,
the Deluxe Leather Case is a good value. Belt clip users will especially love it.
25
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Tunewear Prie
Classic Face Case
Though iPodlounge has seen its fair share of attempts at unisex and feminine
cases, relatively new iPod accessory maker Tunewear is the first to completely
nail a classy female-specific design: the company’s new leather Prie Classic
Face case has the same je ne sais quois indicia of quality that has previously
separated Vaja cases from all others, but in a distinctly feminine package that
likely will do for women what Vaja’s sculpted cases have done for men.
There are actually four versions of the Prie case, differing only in their included
hand straps and interior iPod mini face protection. Each Prie is a traditional
PDA case-style rectangular box with an opening front flap that reveals the iPod
mini’s face. The front flap includes a small interior slot large enough for a credit
card, and a Velcro pad that holds the case closed at the iPod mini’s Dock
Connector port. At the flap’s bottom is a second piece of leather in a soft U
shape, tastefully embossed with Tunewear’s logo.
A
Differences appear when the Pries are opened. Tunewear’s “Classic Face” design
covers more of the iPod, while the “Open Face” design exposes almost its entire
front. Similarly, TuneWear offers two different sets of packed-in straps (the
depicted set, more female and purse-like, with another set more unisex), and
four colors that may appeal more to women than men.
Tunewear’s most interesting design choice was to pick expensive-looking
stitching, clasps and eyelets for the Prie cases: a short strap includes lobster
claw clasps, hooks into polished metallic rectangular eyelets in the Prie case,
and its combined stitching and material look every bit as good as what you’d
see at a luxury leather goods store. The long strap is even more impressive, a
legitimately long piece of leather with larger, quality clasps at its ends and the
ability to adjust its length to whatever you desire. Though the meat of the Prie
case is impressive, it’s these straps that give the product extra A-caliber class,
and feminine emphasis regardless of color.
Multiple viewers offered uniformly positive impressions of Prie. The quality of
Tunewear’s leather is certainly higher than that of most leather cases, and is
instantly apparent as excellent from the moment the Prie is removed from its
packaging. Stitching at all points on the case is precise and meticulous in a
way we rarely see in less expensive cases, and each edge of the Prie appears to
have been given equally strong attention to detail.
If the case has any issues, they’re likely from Tunewear’s dainty design
consistency. The headphone port hole, precision fit to Apple’s remote control
connector footprint and even professionally stitched around, won’t
accommodate larger headphone plugs found on expensive headphones.
And the Dock Connector hole is also very small, with too little space on its left
and right sides to attach most peripherals while the iPod mini’s inside.
Our final concern is Prie’s price. The cases sell for a bit more than Vaja’s iPod
mini Classic case ($34.90 and up), but less than its $50-$70 iVod mini. For men,
Vaja’s cases are better options, but women will eat Prie up. Without question, it
would be our top pick as a gift for that special iPod-loving lady.
iLeath Mini Print Case Make your own iPod case - at least, the front panel
B
26
Though it won’t win awards for its leather quality, the Mini Print Case from
iLeath ($44.99) does offer a feature not found in any other case - a fully
customizable front flap. You visit iLeath’s web site, upload a digital photo or
piece of art, and it appears on the case as a taut leather patch that’s waterresistant and pretty close in color to what you submitted. iLeath also offers
uncustomized versions of the Mini Print Case at lower prices, and includes an
unremarkable integrated belt clip with each one. Overall, though this product
offers decent protection for your iPod mini, the custom look is more of a hook.
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
On rare occasion, iPodlounge comes across an accessory so well made that
the manufacturer could charge pretty much any price and still sell out.
Argentinian leather manufacturer Vaja makes several such accessories, two of
which are on this page, and even their packaging scores points on class.
Vaja iVod 3G
The iVod 3G case ($65.90) is what a high-end leather iPod case should look
like: using a semi-puffed leather exterior, its seams are neatly tucked away like
a fine upholstered piece of furniture. A bonded leather process combines with
a single piece of clear, semi-hard vinyl to create a practical shield for the 3G
iPod’s front, improving on Vaja’s earlier iPod designs and beautifully
displaying the treasure inside the case. The back of the iVod has a metal post
for attaching an industry standard swivel belt clip, though you can also order
the case without a belt clip, further streamlining its body and reducing its
thickness. We’d take it without the clip.
Like most sleeve case designs, the iVod has you slip the iPod in through the
top, and thereafter, access to all of the iPod’s controls is a finger tip away. Vaja’s
puffed exterior is soft to the touch, while the rigid interior provides stiff
protection against mishaps. Although the top corners are not covered by the
case, this was an intentional “form follows function” design choice, making it far
easier to pull the iPod out of its well fitting, snug-but-not-tight leather home.
A
Some may balk at the iVod’s price, but the difference between this case and its
closest competition - even cases released a year later - is profound. From
moment one, it’s apparent that the iVod is well-made, and that there’s
something special about the quality of the Argentine leather. Open the black
glossy and matte-printed box - which is itself beautifully designed - and your
room quickly fills with that real quality leather smell. To add further value to
the product, Vaja offers customized iVods for those who want their names
engraved or one of many leather and color combinations not offered in the
standard model. Each case includes a plasic individualized warranty card, too.
A 4G version of this case, iVod Remixed is available now. We expect that it will
be every bit as good as Vaja’s other products.
Vaja iVod mini
We loved the iVod, and felt quite the same about Vaja’s iVod mini ($49.90
- $69.90). The soft, semi-puffed leather case covers all of the mini’s corners
properly, providing two millimeters of impact resistance on all sides. A highclass sewn black fabric interior grips the mini without scratching it, and the
built-in hard screen protector looks and works great. Best yet, Vaja now
impressively offers at least 28 different colors for buyers to choose from
- everything from white to gray to black, red to green to blue, many colors in
multiple shades., plus low-cost engraving or embossing of any logo.
The only design issue buyers may have is that the case doesn’t cover the iPod
mini’s Click Wheel, top or bottom. Instead, the top is entirely exposed as a
place for the iPod to slip in, the bottom provides substantially open access to
the Dock Connector port, and the Click Wheel is left fully accessible.
A
We didn’t mind the exposed top and bottom at all, given that Vaja wisely
chose to provide small lips on both sides that extend just enough past the top
of the iPod to prevent drop damage. Scratching of the iPod’s exposed surfaces
remains a possibility if you keep the iVod mini in your pocket with keys, or
in some other potentially dangerous place, but we don’t suspect most users
would take that risk with a leather case like this one.
Assuming that the price doesn’t scare you away - which it may if you want a
custom color, engraving, and the belt clip - you’re certain to love the iVod mini
when you receive it. It’s a little luxury worthy of a mini iPod.
27
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Exercise Cases. We’ve tested many workout-friendly iPod cases on trails and in gyms, in
dry heat and heavy rain. Only our favorites appear below.
Teski Roadie
A-
We’ve tested and knocked our fair share of iPod exercise cases, but we’ve finally
found one that’s good enough to recommend. Teski’s Roadie accomplishes
what Monster and Tune Belt didn’t accomplish with their exercise offerings,
namely providing a nice looking case that also does a good job of attaching to
the user’s arm and holding the iPod. And its pricetag makes it a perfect
alternative to the other, inferior options.
The first version of the Roadie consisted of four pieces: a white rubberized
front shell, a hard (thin plastic) black back shell, an elastic and velcro armband,
and a hard plastic belt clip. Only three of these pieces are intended to be used
at once - the belt clip and armband are interchangeable, while the front and
back shells snap together to enclose an iPod. Smooth, rounded holes are left
for the iPod’s top and bottom ports. In the first version, the face of the iPod
was left entirely exposed, though vaguely protected by a couple of millimeters
of elevated rubber lip across the front edge. Currently shipping Roadies now
include a transparent plastic cover for the iPod’s face, remedying the one major
concern we had when we first reviewed the product.
Unlike competitors, the Roadie’s arm strap looks good and holds firm. The
elastic stretches enough to accommodate any arm size, and multiple pieces of
Velcro are designed to reinforce the band’s grip by providing multiple adhesive
sites. Pull the arm strap out and the back of the case has a deftly designed,
snap on belt clip that locks in and detaches nicely.
Even though the materials used in the Roadie aren’t expensive, Teski’s design
makes the most of the components. Because of the two-piece central case
design, the company has been able to offer a pack of three replaceable colored
front covers (Clear (Transparent), Black and Sport Orange) for an additional
$9.95. The rear cover is a bit on the thin side, though not dangerously so, and
when the two halves are snapped together, they form a good seal specific to
the size of the iPod inserted inside. Still, we would have preferred some sort of
transparent plastic protection for at least the screen, which would have made
the iPod less susceptible to damage in a fall on an uneven surface. The
rubberized front will absorb some shock, but not prevent abrasions.
With its transparent molding, Monster’s iSportCase is a cooler looking case,
but Teski’s is the one we’d want to work out with. If you can find it for $19.95,
consider the Roadie a highly viable touring companion. Teski offers the Clear
(Transparent) in its 3 color pack.
Speck Products Mini Arm Band
A28
Apple and Speck Products both make arm band accessories for the iPod mini,
but in a surprising turn of events, Speck’s Mini Arm Band ($29.95) came out
on top. Apple’s white and black iPod mini Armband ($29.00) is little more than
a neoprene strip with a plastic iPod mini clip and Velcro arm attachments.
Speck’s version includes a soft plastic iPod mini case, a transparent iPod clip
large enough to hold the encased iPod mini, and an almost identical neoprene
and Velctro arm band combination. As a result, your iPod is better protected
against rain, sweat, and accidental droppage in Speck’s offering, which suffers
from only one unfortunate design choice: instead of Apple’s classier black
neoprene, Speck chose a muted green.
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Marware makes a couple of our favorite iPod cases, and the SportSuit
Convertible (available for 3G, 4G and mini iPods) is one of them. Highly
similar from iPod version to version, the exercise-friendly Convertible case
comes in six colors for 3G and 4G iPods ($39.95) and five iPod mini-matching
colors for its smaller enclosure ($34.95).
Marware SportSuit
Convertible 4G
While the base of product is a Marware SportSuit - a quality iPod case made
largely from stitched neoprene and see-through plastic - the distinctive
concept is the Convertible part, a detachable hard front protective flap that
attaches with Velcro to the top of the SportSuit. You slip the iPod into the
neoprene case for everyday use, which has a hole to permit you easy access
to the iPod’s controls, then attach the hard flap only when you need the extra
anti-scratch protection for the full front of the iPod.
It’s a good idea, and it works well. A velcro latch at the Convertible flap’s
bottom holds everything closed, like a typical PDA case, only Marware’s
implementation is harder and more water-resilient. There’s also a pouch within
the flap large enough to hold headphones or keys while you’re exercising. A
pop-open rubber guard protects the Dock Connector port, too.
DLO makes a highly similar product called the Action Jacket (below), which
uses seemingly less expensive components and a simpler design. Coupled
with Marware’s included SportSuit Convertible armband, which feels bettermade and looks at least slightly nicer than DLO’s, the Convertible proves a
very good workout option - perhaps the best available for people who jog in
inclement weather conditions or places where full iPod face and/or anti-shock
protection would be important.
A-
Additionally, while the Convertible version of the SportSuit case features rear
straps to hold the armband in place, Marware also includes a detachable hard
plastic belt clip, which integrates substantially better with the Convertible
than DLO’s almost afterthought belt nub does with the Action Jacket. Finally,
Marware’s selection of color choices elevate the SportSuit another notch or
two above the Action Jacket; the pink mini version especially won female nods
of approval when we were testing the cases.
Though we’re not fans of neoprene as an everyday case enclosure for iPods,
the material stands on at least equal footing with the plastic in Teski’s Roadie
and the rubber in Speck’s Mini Arm band as a compelling protectant for
outdoor use and high-impact work outs. We therefore recommend the
SportSuit Convertible most vigorously to those who will have a real need to
keep its top on.
DLO Action Jacket 4G and mini
Think of DLO’s Action Jackets as the SportSuit Convertible series-minus. That’s
not an entirely bad thing - they’re minus in price ($29.99 for the iPod mini,
$24.99 for the 4G iPod), but also minus in the Convertible’s key feature, namely
its hard front flap, as well as its quality Dock Connector guard, its thin belt clip
and soft arm band. DLO does include an acceptable but bulkier belt clip, plus
an elastic arm band rather than Marware’s neoprene one. The result is a case
that’s not as comfortable or as nice in the details, but...
C+
It’s an acceptable option, especially given that it’s one of the only 4G iPod
exercise cases presently on the market. It’s pretty much the definition of our
old “It’s OK” rating - not offensive in any way, and it does what it claims to do as
an exercise case. It just isn’t the best alternative available, and isn’t as
comfortable as we would have hoped. But the price might be right for
your needs.
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GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Hard Cases. Plastic, metal, and combinations thereof have led to the most resiliant iPod
cases available. But pricing and practicality remain key issues.
Contour Design
Showcase 3G & 4G
Contour’s series of hard plastic iPod Showcases ($32.95) are unquestionably
amongst the best third- and fourth-generation iPod cases available. Differing
only in a few small particulars, these clear and solid-colored plastic shells are
simple in concept and impressively detail-oriented in execution, dotting all
their i’s and crossing their t’s to a point where we have no complaints. And if
you read iPodlounge’s reviews, you know that’s no easy fear.
Each Showcase locks your iPod inside a hard rubber colored frame that
includes two pieces of transparent plastic and a smart articulating latch. This
frame – black or white in 4G models and in six other colors for 3G models
– surrounds the iPod with soft parallel curves, exposing only its headphone
port, Hold switch, and Dock Connector port to the elements. Each hole is sized
generously enough for whatever you need to plug in, thankfully.
A
Transparent plastic reveals the iPod’s front face and a significant portion of its
chrome back panel – enough to see the Apple iPod logos and the capacity of
the unit inside. Both Showcases include a hole for Wheel access, though the
newer case includes a superior, smooth beveled circle instead of the modestly
awkward, flat cut five holes that appeared on its predecessor. It’s a cleaner,
nicer look, thanks to Apple’s superior new iPod design.
Insertion and removal are easy and problem-free. The front and back halves
of each case are joined by rubber on the left side, and snapped together
firmly with Contour’s nice articulating right side latch. Once inside, an iPod
looks great and feels entirely secure; the rubberized sides of the case and hard
transparent plastic surfaces are more than enough to prevent your iPod from
sustaining serious drop or scratch damage. All that’s missing is Wheel
protection, perhaps in a flip-down mechanism like the one implemented by
Speck in its Flipstand cases. Most users won’t care; we didn’t.
Pacific Rim 4gShield
B+
If you like the concept behind the Showcase but want
something a bit tougher, Pacific Rim’s latest 4gShield
($34.99) case may well meet your needs. Made largely
fromaircraft aluminum, the 4gShield includes a fully
integrated hard plastic screen protector, a Click Wheel
hole, a belt clip, and a side hinge to give you easy access
to the key parts of your iPod. In essence, it’s a compromise
between Matias’ iPod Armor, which offers a totally
encompassing metal solution, and the Showcase, which
is hard but not as impervious as metal. Some won’t like
the size of the 4gShield’s holes, which keep it from being
watertight, but it’s solid.
30
The only differences between the cases are small; an included foam sizer insert
(for thinner iPods) no longer covers the 4G’s rear transparent panel, and the
4G’s belt clip uses a little more plastic for reinforcement. Both changes are
welcome: the new case shows off the iPod inside even better than before, and
feels firmer when belt clipped, though the 3G’s still great.
If history’s any indicator, both Showcases will likely remain at or near the top of
their respective hard plastic case piles. We recommend both without
reservation - unless you’re strongly in need of Click Wheel protection or a
different colored case. Be prepared to wait a while for something this good.
Matias Corporation iPod Armor
B+
Perhaps the single most impervious iPod case on the
planet is Matias’ iPod Armor ($49.95), an aluminum
shell that covers virtually every nook and cranny of
the iPod’s surface. So much, in fact, that users have
reported that their iPods survived roll-overs by tank
treads and car tires. But this protection comes at a
cost - you can’t access the iPod’s screen or controls
unless you pop open the case. Thankfully, the hold
switch and headphone jack are exposed so you can
use the iPod, and the Dock Connector sits behind a
rubber guard. A detachable belt clip’s also included
for the price. We love the iPod Armor, but it has
times and places of better and lesser utility.
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
While highly protective, Matias’ iPod Armor designs for full-sized iPods have a
consequence: their all-metal shells preclude access to the encased iPod’s
controls unless you flip open the front panel. Thankfully, Matias’ iPod Armor
mini case ($49.95) does the old formula two steps better. It wraps around the
mini’s sides, holding it in place even when the front panel is opened. And
Matias now uses a hard transparent plastic screen guard, thereby enabling
users to better use the iPod mini while it’s encased - assuming they have a
remote control or only want to see what song is playing.
Matias Corporation
iPod Armor mini
However, unlike its predecessors, Armor mini uses metal more decoratively
than functionally. While the exterior of the case includes thin sheets of hard
aluminum, the interior is comprised mostly of hard plastic. How powerful is
armor that’s made from plastic?
Practically speaking, the metal/plastic distinction is next to irrelevant: in almost
any situation, iPod Armor mini protects against scratches, shocks, and drops
better than any of the other iPod mini cases we’ve tested, particularly given
that it fully covers the mini’s Click Wheel and screen. Only the iPod mini’s top is
left exposed, a design decision that consequently allows users to attach
accessories such as the iTrip and NaviPod while the Armor’s on. On balance,
we think that this was a good design choice.
It’s tough to ask for perfection from any iPod case maker, though our
standards go up when prices go up. Matias $49.95 asking price is quite high
given current competition, though the iPod Armor mini looks and feels wellmade, and includes a fully detachable belt clip that slims down the case’s
profile considerably versus its competitors. While Speck has done a great job
with its all-plastic Mini FlipStand, and Innopocket has a good solidly metal case
in their Metal Deluxe Case, Matias’ design remains an excellent option for those
who need guaranteed protection.
Innopocket Metal Deluxe Case
Whereas Matias relies heavily on
plastic for its iPod Armor mini,
Innopocket decided that the Metal
Deluxe Case ($34.90) would use
a padded aluminum shell with
only two major plastic parts: an
integrated clear hard plastic screen
protector, and a pop-off belt clip.
B+
But Innopocket’s design doesn’t
cover as much of the mini’s body as Matias did.
There’s no Click Wheel protection - which some
users now expect from metal cases - and there’s
also a hole in the back of the case to let you pop
the mini out, plus small holes for the top and
bottom ports. Insertion and removal is a bit of a
challenge, but once inside, the iPod mini is
satisfactorily protected on all sides (save its
holes) against both scratching and impacts.
For those who want full-time Wheel access, the
Metal Deluxe Case is a very good compromise.
A-
Power Support Crystal Jacket
and Speck Mini FlipStand
With two different
approaches to hard plastic
iPod mini coverage, Speck
and Power Support’s cases
each have their advantages
and disadvantages. Power
Support’s Crystal Jacket
($20.00) is cheaper, includes
Wheel Film protection
for the mini’s Click Wheel,
and provides full top and
bottom port access with
minimal protection therein.
Speck’s Mini FlipStand
($29.95) is beautifully
engineered to provide
flip-up hinge access to
the iPod’s top and bottom
ports, plus a one-of-a-kind
retractable Click Wheel
cover, but is modestly useful
when standing up and way
too protective (restrictive,
even) of the Dock port.
A-
B+
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GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Specialty Cases. If you’re going to hike, swim, or travel with your iPod, these cases are the
very best we’ve seen to protect your music library.
Otterbox oPod
The iPod has a total of one truly waterproof case and one case that’s pretty
much everything-else-proof except for water. Otterbox makes the latter
product, and despite the fact that you shouldn’t take it in a lake or a pool, it’s a
remarkably well-designed and uniquely protective 3G iPod case.
Unlike the waterproof LiliPod (below), Otterbox’s oPod ($49.95) is impressively
tailored to real-life use of the third-generation iPod. Available in five colors
(white, pink, green, blue, and yellow), the oPod gives the user full but protected
access to the iPod’s controls and screen, plus two different ways to connect
to your body: an included, detachable belt clip, and an optional neoprene
armband for athletic use ($14.95).
B+
While we wouln’t pick oPod as an armband accessory, it’s great as an allconditions resilient iPod enclosure. The white plastic back shell is rubber lined
on the inside as a sealant and hard rubber cornered on the outside for antidrop protection. Headphone plugs fit in the oPod and iPod without a problem.
The two shells lock together with a hinge at the top, comfortably sealing the
iPod in without potential for scratching or other damage.
We found the iPod’s touch-sensitive controls surprisingly easy to use inside,
and though steam and water can fog the plastic membrane slightly, we always
found it easy to wipe the outer screen and see what was going on. That said,
we would have liked a beefier belt clip, given the product’s otherwise resilient
design and likely appeal to “extreme” athletes and harder core users.
Officially, Otterbox states that the oPod is “dustproof, dirtproof, sandproof
and drop-proof,” which makes the case better than most for users with active
livestyles, and enlisted iPod lovers who happen to be stationed in deserts or
jungles. But waterproof, it’s not. Otterbox accurately describes the oPod as
“water resistant,” and touts it as rain and pool safe, which we agree that it is, so
long as it’s not being submerged and used under water.It’ll survive an “oops I
dropped it in the pool” experience, but not an “I want to use it in the pool/
lake/ocean” one.
The oPod is the only 3G iPod hard case to offer such a complete degree of
protection while permitting both screen and control access. Consequently, we
think that though an oPod’s value will depend on a buyer’s particular needs, it’s
easy to recommend for anything other than pool parties.
Eroch LiliPod
Eroch Studios’ LiliPod ($35.00) is the iPod’s only truly waterproof case, and can
be submerged in water (save perhaps scuba diving) without fear. But it has
faded into the background in recent days, its design antiquated by newer and
more appealing cases like the oPod. As a while two-piece hard plastic shell
B+
with a foam interior, the LiliPod more than resembles the generic watertight
cases that protect cigarettes and other consumables. It affords no access
to the iPod’s screen, controls, or ports save a watertight headphone jack on its bottom (the iPod’s placed upside down inside). A nice fabric
necklace accompanies the case to permit its easy use at a beach or pool. But without a pair of waterproof headphones, its use is limited, even
more so since you can’t use a remote control or in any way change volume or songs. It may be the only waterproof iPod case, but a sequel’s
desperately needed.
32
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
We rarely award an unqualified A grade to iPod accessories, but Australiabased luggage maker STM’s Cocoon ($39.95) case for the iPod scores one
across three different iPod platforms - they’ve developed a really nice looking,
appropriately protective travel case that’s compatible with the 3G, 4G, and
iPod mini (the latter only with an optional accessory).
STM Cocoon
for 3G, 4G, Mini
In the “larger protective iPod case category,” the Cocoon succeeds where
Monster’s iCase - a huge 3G iPod-specific folio of a holder - went way
overboard. Without dramatically expanding the footprint of a full-sized iPod,
the Cocoon wraps any size of iPod in two layers of protection, one lightweight
for general use and the second hard and substantial for traveling.
As of early September, 2004, each Cocoon package includes four transparent
plastic iPod sheathes (“STM iPod skins”) with detachable fabric lanyard
necklaces, one each for thin and thick third-generation iPods, and one each for
thin and thick fourth-generation versions. iPod mini skins are available
separately for $9.95 - a bit of a shame - and include a plastic tube-style
necklace. Considering that they’re not made from silicone rubber, they’re
actually pretty nice: iPods slip easily into each sheathe, which protects the
screen but leaves exposed the 3G’s buttons and Scroll Wheel (or 4G/mini’s
Click Wheel), as well as the top ports and Dock Connector slot. On the back of
each STM skin is a white Velcro patch.
The Cocoon itself is a highly professional-looking dual-zippered grey hard shell
that opens to reveal its own Velcro patch on one side and a mesh net on the
other. Your sheathed iPod attaches to the interior Velcro patch while the mesh
net offers enough space for headphones and a remote control. As nice as the
case looks from the outside, it looks on the inside.
A
When zipped up, the Cocoon’s top and bottom include holes for iPod
headphone and port connectivity, limiting the unit’s resilience to weather
conditions but providing substantial protection against other types of
damage. A non-detachable belt clip on the back of the Cocoon feels solid,
yet is just large enough to suit belt-mounters’ needs without excessively
bulking up the case.
Overall, the Cocoon looks and feels great - month after its release, it’s still as
close to a perfect travel case for the iPod as we’ve seen. The brilliance of STM’s
design is its ability to address with plastic skins the average iPod user’s need
for less protectivity on the go, while the hard shell can be added to the outside of the iPod whenever you need it. Lanyards are a cute additional touch, as
well. With a product this good, we hope to see more from STM in the very near
future - perhaps a smaller case more specifically tailored to the iPod mini?
Common Alternatives: Large Ballistic Nylon Zipper Packs
Be-Ez Travel Bag
Though Monster makes a similar product called the iCase ($69.99), we opted to feature Be-Ez’s
Travel Bag for iPod 3G ($39.95) instead because it’s so similar, cheaper, has a bit smaller footprint
(5.5” x 5.5” x 2”) and for some reason comes with a free piece of music organization software called
Ask the DJ iPod Edition (Mac only). Despite its identical use of water-resilient black ballistic nylon
fabric as an outside covering, we weren’t thrilled with the iCase because it was both large and
largely impractical - a large fabric binder that just happens to hold a 3G iPod. Be-Ez’s bag isn’t really
made solely for the 3G iPod, and can hold any 4G model as well, and has a bunch of extra
neoprene compartments designed generically to hold, well, stuff. Like headphones, your power
supply and remote control, or spare change. The iPod Photo, complete with its various pack-in
accessories, would be the best fit for Be-Ez’s Travel Bag; designed as it is to hold just an iPod and
small items, STM’s Cocoon stands out a lot more and is better for most of our purposes.
33
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Speakers and Headphones. After testing the best audio equipment designed and
marketed for use with iPods, we bring you our top picks at each price point.
JBL Creature II
Speakers
A
iPodlounge has tested virtually all of the iPod-specific speaker systems released
to date, and none compares in sound quality for the dollar to JBL’s Creature II
Speaker System ($99.95, available for as little as $72.00).
We always emphasize that great iPod speakers should deliver clean audio
across the frequency spectrum from high (treble) response through the midrange to low (bass) response. Surround sound is unnecessary; the iPod doesn’t
support it, so two-channel (left and right) audio suffices, so long as they’re
adequate separated. While portability is a plus, most iPod speakers wind up
sitting in one place and rarely being moved. And for most people, price is key.
The Creature II system almost perfectly meets our requirements. Two small
white and chrome iPod-matching satellite speakers provide crisp treble and
mid-range response, while a large white plastic subwoofer creates a rich bass
sound. When turned on, cool blue lights glow underneath each of the satellites
and next to the power button on the rear of the subwoofer. Silver knobs on
the subwoofer let you adjust the bass and treble of the system, while silver
touch-sensitive plus and minus buttons on the right satellite speaker adjust the
volume. You can position the pieces wherever you want for a greater stereo
effect; they’re connected by cables. And even if you don’t tweak the bass,
treble, or speaker locations, the Creatures sound better than any of the other
iPod speakers we’ve tested. But the adjustable bass and treble guarantee you’ll
create sound you like.
Notably, the Creatures aren’t portable speakers - they come with a power cube,
won’t run off battery power, and are only “portable” in that they’re neither too
heavy nor large to occasionally carry from room to room in a house as
necessary. But then, competing options either themselves aren’t practically
portable, or trade audio quality for their portability, a bad compromise from
our perspective unless you frequently use portable speakers.
The only thing really missing from the Creatures is an integrated iPod dock,
which is featured in JBL’s On Stage and Altec Lansing’s offerings, but limits their
use with the iPod Photo. The Creatures are way cheap, include an audio cable,
and work with Apple’s Dock ($39) or SendStation’s PocketDock ($29.95). Your
total price will still be around $100, and we’re certain that you’ll love the sound.
JBL On Stage Speaker System
B+
34
What do you do when you know you’ve invented the best speaker system for
the iPod? If you’re JBL, you shrink it down, add an integrated iPod dock, and
raise the price. On Stage ($199.95) offers 90% of the Creature II’s sound quality
in a considerably more compact package, but like the Creatures, On Stage isn’t
portable - it requires an AC power adaptor (included) and is designed to sit flat
on a desk. Four speakers are hidden under a silver metal grille, surrounding a
set of touch-sensitive volume buttons and any sized iPod at front. There’s also
a port on the back so that you can connect your iPod to your computer while
it’s docked. But you can’t adjust the bass or treble, and there’s no way to pop
batteries in - a shame given the size and price of On Stage relative to other
products. It’s not our first choice, but it’s still a good one.
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Across four different speaker products, Altec’s inMotion series excels across the
board at portability. The company’s inMotion was the first battery-powered
speaker and dock system specifically designed for the iPod, and was followed
by the hardware-agnostic iM2s and deluxe multi-iPod-ready iM3s.
Altec Lansing
inMotion iMmini
Made solely for use with the iPod mini, the iMmini speaker system radically
simplifies Altec’s higher-end inMotions, cutting their footprints, pack-ins, and
prices. Measuring around 7” x 4.4” x 1”, iMmini weighs only 10 ounces, and gets
up to 24 hours of battery life out of four AA cells. A white AC power adapter
is included for in-home play. And though the iMmini features smaller speaker
drivers than the other inMotions, it produces surprisingly balanced sound
- better, in fact, than in Altec’s more expensive offerings.
Unlike other inMotions, the iMmini uses a single body shell with pop-out
panels that expose its dock and a table mounting foot. These panels are a
really well thought out and efficient way of protecting the iMmini’s ports
when closed. Under most circumstances, they do a fine job of keeping the
iMmini standing up, too; just keep its power cord away from accidental tugs.
A snap-on plastic panel covers its entire front when you travel.
We were surprised to discover that we actually preferred the sound of the
iMmini to both the earlier inMotion speakers and Altec’s newer iM3 speaker
system. While the smaller drivers in the iMmini’s speaker chambers aren’t as
powerful as their larger inMotion and iM3 brothers, they actually produce even
more natural and pleasant treble and bass response.
This isn’t to say that the iMmini produces perfect sound, though. Both of
Altec’s new speaker systems exhibited a bit of noise in their audio signals, a
slight hissing sound that becomes more noticeable as the volume is adjusted
above the 50% mark. And they aren’t the aural peers of our less expensive
reference JBL Creature speaker system, which exhibited a better dynamic
range and of course better stereo separation. As with the earlier inMotions, the
iMminis make more of a wall of sound than a stage with distinct left and right
channels - though you can occasionally hear separation if you’re close enough
to the speakers, and it’s no doubt a better sounding wall of sound than what’s
made by options such as Monster’s iSpeaker.
A-
Properly viewed, the iMmini is a highly portable speaker system for the iPod
mini that delivers better than average audio quality for its size, and at a lower
price than the earlier and larger Altec inMotions it largely replaces. We frankly
love the way it looks, and substantially enjoy the way it sounds. It would be
the first speaker system we’d recommend today to an iPod mini owner who
will truly make use of its portability, though it’s not the right option for people
who want speakers for more than one iPod.
If portability isn’t necessary, we continue to feel that JBL’s Creatures offer the
best price to performance ratio around for stationary use with an iPod. But
travel speakers they’re not, and the iMmini certainly does that in style.
Another alternative: Altec’s inMotion iM3 System
We really wanted to like Altec’s iM3 speakers ($179.00), and to some extent, we did: their
B+ white plastic and metal grille design looks great, includes a decent carrying case and
international power adapters, and docks any generation of iPod from oldest to the present
day. Best of all, the iM3s include a class-leading infrared remote control - the only one we’ve
tested that properly switches tracks and regulates the volume of the speakers. But we found the
audio quality of the iM3s to be a step or two lower than what we expected for the asking price
- not as pleasant as even Altec’s iMmini system (above), and no comparison against JBL’s Creatures.
Average users mightn’t mind, discerning and price-conscious ones will. However, as compared
with Bose’s SoundDock ($299), the iM3 system offers similar features, much greater portability, and
comparably bass-heavy (though not quite as distortion-free) sound at a much lower price.
35
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Sennheiser PMX60
Headphones
A-
Renowned for its high-end headphones, Sennheiser surprised us with the
PMX60s, a $29.95 pair of behind-the-neck headphones that delivered
impressive audio quality for the dollar and a nice fit. Like ear buds, behind-theneck headphones have their fans and detractors: they’re clearly less
conspicuous than large ear cups, but more visible than the average pair of ear
buds. Rather than isolating the ear with foam or other padding, they generally
direct audio from one flat speaker into each ear, hopefully providing enough
volume to prevent outside sound from coming in.
Many headphones use some combination of small speakers, chintzy-looking
external casings, and odd cords that make the user feel uncomfortable, look
weird, or both. The PMX60s avoid all three traps: their large, foam-covered
headphones are enough to cover 90% of a large ear; their black and chrome
casings look professional, and their cord designs are elegant, with one hard
cord from ear to ear around the neck, and one soft cord from left headphone
to stereo jack. Three minutes after putting them on, all you’ll feel is the hard
cord wrapping cleanly around the top of each ear to gently keep the
headphones in place, and the slight tap of the back of that cord at the top of
your neck. There are no tangles, no inconveniences, and no discomfort. But
the cord’s a bit short: at a little over three feet long (1 meter), the cord worked
fine for our purposes, and shouldnt be an issue for anyone with an iPod remote
control, but those who need additional cord length may find the PMX60s
slightly stifling in that regard.
More important was the fact that we really liked the sound of the PMX60s.
They delivered crisper sounding audio and a larger-sounding audio field than
the MX500s and Apple’s iPod pack-ins, adding a sharper edge to the guitars of
James Brown’s The Payback while bringing the Godfather of Soul onto a
separate piece of the stage from his band. The PMX60s therefore delivered a
closer approximation of what we hear when using higher-end headphones,
without delivering sound directly into the ear canal.
While users will appreciate the sound of the PMX60s in quiet rooms, their
internal and external isolation leave a bit to be desired if there are other people
or audio sources nearby. Unless you turn up the volume - not good for your
ears - you’ll hear some of the outside world around you, and the outside world
will be able to hear some of whatever youre listening to, as well. If you can live
with that - yes, we could understand why, given the quality of the PMX60s’
audio - and don’t strongly prefer smaller ear buds, we’d strongly recommend
the PMX60s over the value-priced MX500s.
Good for the price: Sennheiser’s MX500s and Sony’s MDR-EX71s
A-
36
Less expensive than the PMX60s,
Sennheiser’s MX500s are in-ear buds
rather than over-the-ear phones. They
sound very similar to Apple’s iPod
pack-in ear buds - with a hint more
treble - and even include a carrying case and in-line volume control
for those who don’t have an Apple
remote. At $19.95, they’re a no-brainer if your iPod buds
die, so long as you don’t mind their blue buds and black
cord. People might think you’re listening to a Dell DJ,
and that would of course be a very bad thing.
A-
Experiences with higher-end
headphones have soured us only a
little on Sony’s MDR-EX70 and EX71
in-ear buds ($39.95), which are still
the most comfortable earpieces
we’ve ever used. Their low price and
bass-heavy audio endeears them to
younger iPod users, while the passive
isolation afforded by their rubber ear tips is a major
advantage for all types of listeners. Sennheiser’s
offerings deliver somewhat crisper, cleaner sound, but
these will likely fit you better, and, if you like bass, meet
your needs. Imported versions from Asia ($49.00) are
available in iPod-matching white.
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Especially for the price, iPodlounge has loved Shure’s headphones: the E2
model (below) is a significant step up from more common $30 alternatives,
and we were therefore anxious to try the company’s E3 earphones ($179.99),
at the very least to see what an extra $100 would buy.
Shure E3c Sound
Isolating Earphones
Like its competitors, Shure’s in-ear headphones are inserted directly into your
ear canals, forming a seal that keeps outside noise out. This “isolation” effect
lets you hear more detail in music without turning up the volume. And Shure’s
are worn in a unique way: their cords, after exiting the earpieces, drape over
the tops of your ears and continue down your back.
Each set of E3s includes a handy and compact zipper-style carrying case,
which feels durable; sets of Ultra-Soft Flex sleeves and classic Flex sleeves, each
in sizes of Small, Medium, and Large, plus a pair of yellow expanding foam
earpieces; an earwax removal tool, and a multi-language user-guide.
Like the E2s, Shure’s E3s have that almost intangible quality product “feel” of
durability. And we found them extremely easy to wear, lightweight at 0.9 oz
and consequently barely noticeable. They are unquestionably a wonderful
improvement from the rather large and relatively heavy E2s. But the largest
factor in E3 comfort is one’s choice of sleeve. We disliked Shure’s hard, thick
Classic Flex Sleeves, and found them painful to use. But we found the new
Ultra-Soft Flex Sleeves to be extremely comfortable, and also liked the Foam
Sleeves. These latter two sleeves allowed us to listen continuously for up to six
hours without any discomfort whatsoever. Our only issue was that the sleeves
that isolated the best weren’t the most comfortable, so you will likely wind up
trading sound for comfort.
B
The first two words that crossed our lips when testing the sound quality of
the E3s were “simply amazing,” at least, for mid-priced headphones. If allowed
only one word, we would choose “clarity.” In direct listening comparison tests,
our E2s (a prior high-water mark for low-to-mid-priced sound quality) often
sounded comparatively muddled and dark. The E3s’ sound is much more
refined, especially in the mid and high ranges. We found the lows, mids, and
highs to be consistently on-target: none were exaggerated or overpowering.
Instruments were clear and distinct. While the bass is not exceedingly
powerful, we would choose to characterize the E3’s low-end as clear, accurate,
tight, and appropriate. Users who prefer more dramatic bass might look
elsewhere, such as to Future Sonics’ EM3 earphones.
In our view, the mark of a good audio product is its ability to render earlier
innovations unimpressive. Perhaps not surprisingly, the E3s dethroned Shure’s
E2s, making it possible for us as listeners to recognize specific flaws (i.e. relative
lack of clarity) in the sound quality of the E2s. This is noteworthy in that the E2s
had previously done the same thing to our cheaper earphones, showing the
E3s for what they are: two steps or more above common in-ear headphones.
No doubt Shure’s E3s are for serious listeners: better than E2s especially in
sound quality and potential for comfort, their biggest disadvantage is that
they are nearly twice the cost.
Solid quality under $100: Shure’s E2c Earphones
B+
They say that you only realize the weaknesses of a given pair of headphones when
you’ve used something better - and likely more expensive. For many users of Shure’s
E2c headphones ($99, available for $71), ignorance is bliss: they present
considerably clearer audio than cheaper headphones, include removable rubber
and foam tips to fit in your ears, and even come with a zippered carry case. True,
they don’t have the sound quality of Shure’s E3s or the other, more expensive
solutions we’ve presented here, and they’re also a bit larger (center) than the Sonys
(left) and Apple’s pack-ins (right). But the E2c is a better value for the average iPod
user, and sounds substantially better than $50 and cheaper headphones.
37
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Etymotic Research
ER-4 MicroPro
A
Readers of iPodlounge’s forums will unquestionably come across positive
references to Etymotic Research’s earphones - near nirvana for serious audio
lovers; listening tools that truly match the quality of the iPod itself.
Our testing fully verified the claims we had heard: for the price, you may never
hear better sound anywhere. To be sure, the earphone or headphone
experience differs from listening to living room speakers or a live performance.
But what you do get with Etymotic’s ER-4 ($330.00) series is astounding clarity,
frequency response and faithful reproduction, and an almost overwhelming
sense of being purely “inside” the music.
Using a pair of ER-4 in-canal earphones (model ER-4P pictured) compels you to
listen to tracks that go back ten, twenty, thirty or more years - songs from the
days of radio, record players, cassette tapes, and CD players. You may be
familiar with these songs, and think you know every guitar note, every trumpet
solo, every drum roll, and all the accompanying instruments. But when the ER4s are in your ears, you’ll hear things you never noticed before - overdubs that
were indistinct, voices hidden in a distant background, notes that were absent.
The experience is something akin to hearing an expertly re-mastered old
favorite album: everything sounds richer, more distinct, and just plain better.
On a scale from “tilted towards bass or treble” or “balanced,” the Etymotics
define balance: their response just sounds real, and “right”, without adding tin
or muddle to the original sound. For this reason, the ER-4 series is considered
“reference” grade by audiophiles, a performance standard by which other
products are measured. While other companies’ earphones may offer stronger
bass, or enhanced treble, the ER-4 series is known as accurate.
How does Etymotic Research achieve this? As a hearing aid company, they
know ears. Also, they put their drivers inside the ears, making your ear canal
part of the device and effectively sealing you off (by ~25db) from outside
noise. You can listen to music practically anywhere without having to turn up
the volume so much that it would damage or desensitize your hearing.
By contrast with over-the-ear cup earphones, the ER-4s are compact, and easily
tote along with your iPod. They come with extra soft plastic and foam inserts,
which fit most ears comfortably, as well as a clip that keeps them from pulling
out, extra metal ear filters and a tool for inserting them into the earphones,
plus an adapter so they fit both types of headphone jacks.
There are three ER models: the B, which are Binaural; the S, Stereo; and the
P, which is the high gain model. Having tested both the S and P models, the
latter of which features higher gain for use with portable devices, it’s difficult
to discern differences in sound quality. We felt that the S model seemed a bit
smoother in response, with a little more punch in the P.
Is there a catch? Yes; the price. At $330.00, they will scare off all but the serious
audio lovers we mentioned at the beginning of the review. But we have come
to love the Etymotics over almost all contenders. Even Ultimate Ears’ awesome
UE-10 Pro earphones ($900.00) offered only a modest improvement in sound
quality, and then only in bass response. If we were stuck on an island with one
set of headphones, these might be the ones.
Rich bass, reasonable price, clean sound: Future Sonics EM3 Earphones
B+
Funny looking in a vaguely fleshy color scheme but great sounding, Future Sonics’ Model EM3 ($143.10)
earphones deliver more bass-rich output than most of their upscale and highly “accurate” competitors. Two
sets of foam in-canal inserts are included (large and small), and though they provide great isolation from outside
noise, custom-fit earpieces are available at an extra cost. The only downer: noise from movement of their cords can
be heard in the earphones, so keep still or batten them down.
38
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
After winning over customers with their UE-5 and UE-7 series earphones,
Nevada-based Ultimate Ears has released the UE-10 Pro ($900), an ultra-high
end, custom fit in-ear design that the company claims is the “most accurate
earpiece available.” Given that price tag and the quality they claim to be
offering, it’s not surprising that the company’s web site lists a huge collection
of celebrity clients - current ones, they add - including Aerosmith, Blue Man
Group, Britney Spears, Cirque Du Soleil, and plenty of others vividly
representing their respective letters of the alphabet.
Ultimate Ears
UE-10 Pro
Admittedly, after testing the UE-10 Pros, we will verify Ultimate Ears’ claims:
these are awesome headphones, and in fact, the UE-10 Pro delivers the best
audio quality we’ve ever heard. But the price tag - three times the
price of a 20GB iPod - places them quite out of reach for most iPod owners.
Every set of UE-10 Pros is custom-fit to the buyer’s ears during an appointment
with an audiologist, who uses putty to make ear canal impressions. Those
impressions are shipped to Ultimate Ears, and a week or two later, headphones
arrive in a customized locking metal box bearing the buyer’s name, along with
a wax removal tool and an instruction manual.
Though the UE-10 Pros come in colors including iPod-matching white, they
look incomparably cool when transparent. Three separate audio drivers are
suspended in fully clear plastic, vividly showing the open-air sonic tunnels
from drivers to eardrums. Similarly cool matching clear cables intertwine,
forming helixes of sparkling metal that run nearly four feet from end to end.
Ultimate Ears currently offers replacement cables in four colors - we’re still
waiting on a white color option for those.
A-
Having tested numerous headphones, the UE-10 Pros are without question
unstoppable as far as accuracy and balance are concerned. As with the
Etymotic ER-4 series, entire libraries of music will beg to be re-played with
the UE-10 Pros so that you can hear previously unheard instruments, layers of
sound, and even muddled lyrics. However, the UE-10 Pros modestly top both
the ER-4 series and Ultimate Ears’ older UE5cs in fidelity, accurately
reproducing not only highs, but noticeably giving somewhat fuller body to the
mid- and low-range. Added bass is the UE-10 Pros’ strongest suit.
They’re pretty comfortable, too. We both found the overall comfort level of the
earphones to be surprisingly comparable to our favorite pairs of in-ear buds,
despite their larger size. But custom-fitting mightn’t be right for everyone: the
UE-10 Pros aren’t as soft as Sony’s MDR-EX71s, or as easily removed from your
ears as Etymotics. But they fit and isolate quite well.
You’ll note that we’re qualifying our praise just a little. Like the Etymotics we
love so much, Ultimate Ears’ products aim for accuracy rather than
enhancement of the original audio source, and at some point you can barely
get more accurate than the superb products that have come before. The
audio difference between the $900 UE-10 Pros and the $330 Etymotics is
very slight, though the price difference is profound, and while the custom
fitting is impressive, there are reasons to like standard-fit ear phones, too. This
is a very exclusive product for an exclusive audience, and though we highly
recommend it, we know quite well that other earphones are going to be far
more appealing to the majority of our readers - solely in price, but not in audio
performance, where the UE-10 Pros are very hard to beat.
A
Still pricey, but not $900 pricey: Ultimate Ears UE5c Earphones
If $900 for a set of UE-10 Pros shocks your pockets, Ultimate Ears’ lowest-end UE5c earphones ($550)
are a better value for typical users. Though they have only two drivers per earphone to the UE-10s’
three, the UE5Cs sound 95% alike, and go through the same custom fitting process used across all of
Ultimate Ears’ more expensive offerings. The black ones pictured here are only one of the colors available like the UE-10s, they can be had in white.
39
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
In-Car Accessories. Whether your car has a FM radio, an old cassette deck, or a modern
line-in port, there’s a way to blast iPod tunes on the road.
SiK din (line-out) &
imp (car charger)
iPodlounge routinely notes in its car accessory reviews that there are good
and bad ways to pull audio from your iPod. The best accessories bring line-out
audio from the iPod’s bottom Dock Connector port through a cable to a direct
line-in jack found on your car stereo. But since many cars lack a line-in jack, the
second best option involves Dock Connector iPod output to a cassette tape
adapter for your car stereo. FM transmitters will always rank a distant third to
these options. SiK’s din ($21.95) is designed to inexpensively help you
accomplish the first or second option.
The din consists of a white Apple Dock Connector plug and two cables, one
leading to a line-quality female audio port, the other to a female FireWire port.
SiK’s imp combines din with a white car charger that uses a male FireWire plug.
When din is used alone, you gain access to the iPod’s line-out audio, and when
SiK’s products are put together, your iPod recharges in a car while outputting
its best quality audio.
B+
Neither din nor imp is a rocket science product, but they both do what they
promise to do. SiK’s use of a thin Dock Connector maximizes din’s compatiblity
with case accessories. And while the set of detachable white wires and
components may or may not match your car’s interior, they do provide you
with the ability to separate the components for the din’s use indoors something that Belkin’s comparable Auto Kit does not. For the price, the two
parts together are a good value, and recommended.
Belkin Auto Kit
For one reason alone, and despite its higher price tag, Belkin’s Auto Kit is preferred by
one of iPodlounge’s editora for his own car: it doesn’t poke out as much as SiK’s imp
from the car’s power adapter port.
The Auto Kit is more or less identical in functionality to SiK’s imp, only $10 more
expensive and sleeker in appearance. Due in part to Belkin’s ongoing iPod
development collaborations with Apple, the Auto Kit manages to perfectly match the
glossy and classy white plastic look of full-sized iPods, hiding a subtle yellow power
light under the Belkin logo on its front. As a small nub protruding from your car’s
power adapter, it features only one dial - a volume adjustment for its built-in amplifier
(not present on SiK’s imp, or especially useful unless your car’s stereo is terrible) - plus
a port for line-out audio, and a cable leading to a male Dock Connector plug.
B+
You plug the Auto Kit into your car and into your iPod, and then plug either a line-out audio cable or cassette adapter into both the Auto Kit’s
port and car. As with SiK’s imp, you’re left with a mess of cables, but there’s not as much sticking out of your car’s power port. It’s still white and
conspicous, but not as conspicuous, and while its Dock Connector plug is a little less universally friendly than SiK’s, it works with most of the
best cases. It’s our close second recommendation for typical users, mostly because of price.
B+
SendStation PocketDock
FireWire/Audio Line Out
SendStation makes at least three PocketDock iPod-to-standard data or audio
adapters, and we’ve liked all of them. The company’s FireWire & Audio Line Out
adapter serves as a tiny plastic replacement for Apple’s larger Dock, providing
a FireWire port and an audio line-out port. Lacking a USB port, this PocketDock
remains ideal for car enthusiasts who hope to make their own in-car iPod
set-ups with line-quality audio. While higher priced than SiK’s din adapter
($21.95), this PocketDock ($29.95) is smaller and more travel friendly, and
comes with its own set of matching white audio cables, which we really liked.
40
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Griffin Technology iTrip and iTrip mini
iPodlounge has reviewed and
really liked each of Griffin’s iTrip FM
transmitters, one for full-sized iPods
($35.00) and another made for the
iPod mini ($39.99). Each plugs in to
an iPod’s headphone jack, uses the
iPod’s screen to let you pick a radio
station, and then broadcasts iPod
audio into any nearby radio - car or
home. No spare battery is required;
the iPod’s battery provides power.
Save for their casings and the fact
that you can boost the iTrip mini’s
broadcasting power by exposing an
antenna wire hidden under its top (a
FCC no-no, so don’t do it), the iTrips
are identical. The full-sized iTrips look
a hint cooler, ideally matching the
shiny white iPods, whereas the matte
white iTrip mini fits the iPod mini’s
size but not color or texture.
The name Monster Cable is synonymous with high-priced
audio and video accessories - typically a 2- or 3-to-1
premium over indistinguishable components. Whether
the iCarPlay Cassette Adapter ($19.95) has a similar flaw
depends on where you shop.
Arelatively static and distortion free.
They do better the closer they gets
to your radio, and deliver a perfectly
clear signal only when the radio
station’s totally empty. The same is
generally true of other FM
transmitters which cost more, eat
more batteries, and don’t look half
as nice. We still prefer the sound and
stability of Sony’s CPA-9C, but as FM
transmitters go, these are winners.
B
iCarPlay is a plastic housing that fits into your car’s cassette
deck, using an attached male audio plug to connect to
your iPod’s headphone jack (or better yet, the line-out
port found on SiK’s din, Belkin’s Audio Kit, or SendStation’s
PocketDock). iPod music goes through the cable and into
your stereo, sounding noticeably better in the process
than it would through an FM transmitter, but not as good
as it would if the iPod plugged directly into the speakers
without the iCarPlay and a cassette deck in-between them.
Griffin’s channel surfing interface for
both iTrips ingeniously utilizes the
iPod’s existing interface and screen.
Tuning is accomplished through
an iPod playlist titled iTrip Stations,
showing channels from 87.9 to 107.9.
Click on a specific station, and within
15 seconds, the iTrip broadcasts a
signal there. Griffin offers additional
software on its web site to enable
the iTrip to broadcast elsewhere in
the world, including frequencies
from 88.0 to 108.0 (Europe) and 76.0
to 90.0 (elsewhere). It bears some
emphasis that such international
tuning just can’t be achieved on
most other FM transmitters.
When the iTrips find a clear station,
they deliver a solid stream of stereoseparated music from the iPod,
Like Sony’s CPA-9C Car Connecting Pack (below), the
iCarPlay crimps the iPod’s audio only modestly, and most
users will like the quality of the output, as we did. However,
the CPA-9C performs identically and is available at half
the price from many retailers, while the light gray iCarPlay
mightn’t match your car’s interior as well as Sony’s black
adapter. These points aside, you can’t go wrong with the
iCarPlay; it performs as promised and is much better than
cassette adapters other than Sony’s.
Belkin TuneCast II FM Transmitter
B+
Monster iCarPlay
Cassette Adapter
Larger, higher priced ($49.99) and
requiring AAA batteries, Belkin’s
TuneCast II has its own LCD screen
and tuning buttons, and some
iPodlounge users swear that it
worked in places where the iTrips
don’t (and vice-versa). We found its
performance similar in our testing,
but didn’t like having to lug around
a droopy attachment, or the unit’s
fast battery drain. Consider it an
alternative if the iTrip doesn’t meet
your needs.
Sony CPA-9C Car Pack
The best feature
of Sony’s CPA-9C
Car Connecting
Pack is its price:
unlike Monster’s
product, it’s
often available
for half its $19.95
B+ suggested retail.
That aside, they
sound the same,
cleanly channeling iPod music into your car stereo via the
cassette deck, only Sony’s will likely look better because of
its black casing.
41
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
DLO TransPod FM
All-in-One Car Mount
It’s been advertised as “the only all-in-one car solution for your iPod,” but with
the release of Griffin’s RoadTrip (below), that’s not accurate any more. DLO’s
TransPod FM ($99.99) combines three key features into a single white plastic
package: utilizing a car’s cigarette lighter power adapter for iPod battery
charging and a built-in digital FM transmitter to broadcast the iPod’s audio
to the car’s stereo, each TransPod also serves as an adjustable iPod mounting
cradle. DLO’s TransPods are rendered compatible with iPods and iPod minis
alike via pack-ins, a plastic sizer and two soft adhesive pads.
Each TransPod includes a huge collection of parts, enabling different car users
to adapt the product to their individual needs. Two adjustable mounting arms
plug into your car’s cigarette lighter power outlet, or alternately you can use a
white corded power adapter and a two-piece screw-mounted attachment for
permanent attachment to a dashboard. The TransPod also includes an
auxiliary-out audio port on its left side, rendering it compatible with cassette
tape adapters and some cars’ line-in jacks.
B
As a FM broadcasting device, the TransPod does a solid job. Unlike other
products (including earlier TransPods), the current version tunes down only
as low as 88.1 - a small difference, but one that required us to do a little more
channel searching before we found something comparably clear. That aside,
we found it pretty easy to create good quality broadcasts. But as we routinely
note in FM transmitter reviews, while the signal will be acceptable for most
users – and may be the only option for some – it cannot compare in clarity to
the sound of an audio signal from a cassette adapter. The TransPod produces a
more balanced and acceptable auxiliary output sound from its aux-out port.
Those with compatible vehicles will no doubt find the new TransPod to be an
attractive and useful accessory that fulfills virtually all of their in-car listening
needs. It’s the best such all-in-one device that we’ve seen to date. But those
with incompatible vehicles will be sorely disappointed, as this new device
comes tantalizingly close to an ideal all-in-one solution.
Almost a mirror image, except for the details: Griffin’s RoadTrip All-in-One Car Solution
C+
42
Battle of the Car Kits. Five ways to deliver line-quality audio from your
iPod to your car speakers, and use your stereo controls to change tracks.
Unlike the rest of the Buyers’ Guide, the kits listed here haven’t all been tested by iPodlounge, so check our Forums before making a decision.
Dension ICE-link 1.0 and 1.1
Unfortunately, mounting the TransPod isn’t a sure thing in all vehicles; its arms
didn’t fit one of our two test cars, and installation was only possible with the
corded power adapter and the two-piece permanent mount. In our other car,
the TransPod just narrowly avoided bumping into the gear shifter, creating a
tight but proving ultimately usable in that vehicle.
On the bright side, we found both the TransPod’s LCD screen and iPod’s screen
to be relatively easy to view when the device was attached and properly
adjusted. Similarly, its charging performance was unsurprisingly fine: when
the iPod or iPod mini was connected to the device, it charged, and the newest
TransPod version includes a LCD indicator that flips between a lightning bolt
and a full battery for those interested in its status.
Ninety percent of Griffin’s products prove great in our testing, but a modest
exception is the RoadTrip ($79.95), which strongly resembles DLO’s TransPod
but proved larger and less stable in our test cars. Its bonus features aren’t great:
it requires iPods to use oddball clips to stay in place, and includes a
detachable but generally useless FM transmitter, which has no internal battery
and can’t work separately with the iPod. It also lacks the mounting kit and lineout capabilities of the TransPod. The All-in-One category only has two major
competitors, but DLO’s is a few steps above this one.
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
B+
C+
The concept behind Dension’s
ICELink 1.0 ($149-199, rating
B+) is simple: pry open your car
stereo, connect the iPod directly
into the stereo’s electronics, and
get clean line-quality music.
Though it requires professional
installation (~$100), version
1.0 delivered as promised, and
even charges your iPod while
connected. But it uses the iPod’s
headphone jack for output, a
no-no, has no cradle, and doesn’t
support all vehicles.
Version 1.1 of ICELink ($189$229, rating C+) went further,
using iPod line-out rather than
the headphone jack, and
including a cradle and mount
instead of leaving your iPod in
your ashtray or glovebox. But not
all of the unit’s features worked
as advertised in our testing, and
sometimes required user fiddling
around to fix annoying crashes.
Keep your fingers crossed for
version 2.0.
Multi Technology iPod2car Kit
Said to be compatible with many popular cars, Multi Technology Equipment’s iPod2car ($189.00) hijacks a car
stereo’s CD Changer port, permitting any Dockable iPod to play and recharge through the car’s audio system.
Use the stereo or the iPod to control playback, forward and reverse. No mount’s included, but a five-minute
install time is promised. If iPod2car works well - we’re waiting to test it - it will be a popular option.
Apple BMW
iPod Adapter
Apple’s products have always
been niche-y, but this is
ridiculous: the company’s only
official in-car solution ($149 plus
installation) works only with five
BMW models. But if you have a
compatible car, you’ll be able
to use its stereo to control your
iPod, including the playback of
five pre-set playlists.
Alpine KCA-420i
iPod Adapter
If you have an Alpine Ai-NET
car stereo ($200 and up), the
KCA-420 iPod Adapter ($100) can
beautifully integrate your iPod
into your car. The iPod’s current
song information and navigation details will appear on the
Ai-NET’s screen, and adjust with
its knob and keys; you’ll also recharge the iPod as you drive. No
iPod mount or cradle is included.
Other Options
Viable do-it-yourself solutions
A number of car customization
companies, including BlitzSafe,
sell custom parts that you or a
car installation professional can
splice into virtually any car’s
audio system to create a close
approxmination of a direct linein setup for your iPod. Blitzsafe’s
car-specific auxiliary audio input
boxes (approx. $100) create a
set of audio input jacks for your
car. You then need a way to pull
audio out of your iPod - either
a stereo mini-jack to stereo RCA
cable plugged into the
headphone jack, or the same
cable plus Belkin’s Auto Kit or
SiK’s imp for true line-out sound.
These won’t mount your iPod or
display song titles on your car’s
stereo, but you’ll get clean audio.
43
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
The Best of the Rest. iPodlounge’s favorite iPod and iTunes expanders,
from battery packs to photo readers, microphones, and radio recorders.
Battery Technology
iPod Battery &
iPod Battery ii
A
Belkin
Media Reader
If iPodlounge gave out awards for iPod accessories that outperformed their
advertised specifications, the list would be short, and would prominently
include one company: Battery Technology Incorporated. Across its first two
products, BTI’s products have dramatically outperformed their advertised
specifications, and where batteries are concerned, that’s a great thing.
Both products are external iPod batteries made from full-sized iPod-matching
white plastic, and they attach with to an iPod’s Dock Connector port. Each
features a “remaining power” indicator with four yellow circular lights, a button
to turn that indicator on, a power on-off switch, and a collection of three
variously sized iPod mounting brackets.
B+
From there, they differ. BTI’s first product, The iPod Battery ($99.95), measures
5.0” x 2.6” x 0.8”, and was initially advertised to extend the iPod’s playback by 40
hours. In iPodlounge’s testing, however, BTI’s number was proved surprisingly
inaccurate - The iPod Battery played for 73 hours on a single charge, which is to
say three continuous days without interruption. BTI now markets the product
as a 70-hour iPod extender, and that performance is unmatched by any other
iPod battery on the market.
Given that no other iPod battery we’ve tested comes close to these offerings,
typically offering the illusion of lower cost by requiring you to purchase and
replace AA batteries, it’s easy to give both BTI products our highest
recommendation. Though the lower-powered sequel would have been a
better value if sold cheaper (hence our A- rating), both batteries are awesome,
and tributes to both BTI’s development efforts and conservative marketing.
44
Transfers are easy. Apple has included software in the iPod that starts
automatically when the Media Reader’s connected. A new menu called Photo
Import appears, with an Import Photos option and lists of already-imported
photos to choose from. Pop a media card in and one button press will transfer
its contents. Then, you either choose “Done” and remove the card, or “Erase
Card” to clean it entirely. Erasing has a safe confirmation screen and is
accomplished fairly quickly, slowing based only on the number of files
previously stored on the media card.
Like other quality iPod peripherals, Belkin’s Media Reader matches the iPod’s
simple, clean elegance. Made mostly from shiny white plastic, the Media
Reader’s green LED flashes to indicate transferring activity. And it’s only slightly
larger than the iPod itself, with slight enough heft not to add any discernable
weight to a bag. It uses AAA batteries, but the iPod’s hard drive runs each time
photos are stored, so serious photographers should pack The iPod Battery, too.
Including The iPod Battery ii ($99.95), a smaller and sleeker sequel (4 1/8” x 2.75”
x under 0.75”) that is somewhat ironically also advertised to deliver 40 hours of
continuous playback. While this new battery also outperformed its rated
specification, delivering 49 hours and 20 minutes of playback with a 3G iPod,
it’s clearly not as incredible of a battery as its older brother. Even when used
with a 4G iPod, which consumes less battery power, The iPod Battery ii
provided a total of 55 hours, 37 minutes of play time before expiring. Full
recharge takes about 90 minutes.
As a result, 3G and iPod mini users can choose between two or three days of
extra iPod juice, while 4G users can get only two and a half. If you own a 3G
or mini, you’ll need to decide for yourself whether The iPod Battery ii’s smaller
form factor and ancillary features are enough to compensate for its lower
capacity and similar pricing. There’s no doubt that the original iPod Battery
(iPodlounge A rating) delivers longer playback time for compatible iPods at the
exact same price, only in a larger body.
On the heels of standalone devices designed to let photographers save their
digital pictures to portable hard drives, Apple and Belkin teamed up a year
ago to add a similar capability to the iPod. Their first device, the Media Reader
($109.99), remains the best alternative yet devised to transfer the contents of
camera media cards onto an iPod’s hard disk, and moots the need to purchase
extra media or carry a large laptop for the same purpose.
The Media Reader is self-powered, connecting to the 3G or 4G iPod’s Dock
Connector port to transfer photos from CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory
Stick, MMC and SD cards onto an iPod’s hard drive. Those photos can then
transfer easily from iPod to computer via FireWire or USB 2.0.
In order to put something at stake when testing the Media Reader, we put
it through its paces with an iPod during an extended tour of Japan, using
multiple memory card formats, reading the cards, copying their contents, then
using the iPod to erase the cards, frequently repeating this process after taking
more pictures. Our cards and photos had no problems of any sort.
So why would someone prefer the second battery, given that both sell for
the same price? Well, The iPod Battery is designed only for use with 3G iPods
and iPod minis, including form-fitting face plates that attach to the battery
pack with four fragile edge clips, whereas The iPod Battery ii also works with
4G iPods and uses a less fragile (but also less protective) mounting system.
The sequel’s other major improvement is a detachable belt clip; the original
included a clip that couldn’t be removed to slim the Battery down.
A-
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Photo transfer times were acceptable, not great. We found that the Media
Reader transferred data from our Lexar 8X CompactFlash cards at a rate of
approximately 4 seconds per megabyte, which meant a 50 megabyte transfer
took a bit over three minutes to complete. Serious photographers will want
more speed, though casual users will find that the Media Reader accomplishes
in minutes what would otherwise be expensive or impossible - the production
of a completely usable blank memory card of equal size to one’s current card,
with storage of its prior photographic contents.
Another option, with mixed results:
Belkin’s Digital Camera Link
Though other devices do the same thing, and some of them are fuller featured,
Belkin’s solution is good for the price - especially when Belkin’s site has a halfoff sale. It’s still the only device of its kind, and recommended.
B
As a follow-up to the Media Reader, Belkin’s Digital Camera Link ($79.99) is a
mixed bag. On the positive side, it is media card agnostic - it connects directly to
a camera and transfers files to your iPod without using a card reader. And when
it works, it’s substantially faster than the Media Reader. But it’s not compatible
with quite a few cameras, and it drains three batteries - camera, DCL and iPod every time you use it. If you carry lots of spare batteries and check Belkin’s site to
ensure compatibility with your camera, consider it.
45
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Griffin Technology
iTalk Voice Recorder
Until late last year, the iPod only played back audio and couldn’t record it. That
changed when Apple and Belkin co-developed the Voice Recorder, a small
microphone peripheral that records conversations, lectures, and monologues but not music. Soon thereafter, Griffin released the iTalk ($39.99), a superior
alternative that adds both obvious and subtle features to Belkin’s design. The
result is one of the best iPod accessories we’ve seen, limited only by Apple’s
software for the iPod. And we know that Griffin would do better if it could.
In the best traditions of Apple products and accessories, iTalk is a truly plugand-play device: you pop it on to the iPod’s top and a “Record” option appears
on the iPod’s screen. Click it and a red light lets you know that a microphone
has activated, with an on-screen count-up timer to let you know how long
you’ve been recording. When you’re done, you press “Stop,” and there’s a
recording on your iPod that is time and date stamped for later listening. Select
the recording (from a list that grows as you record) and it plays back through
iTalk’s speaker. Simple.
A-
Simpler, in fact, than Apple and Belkin’s own solution. Thanks to automatic gain
control, the iTalk doesn’t need to be adjusted in any way if you walk into a
lecture hall or try to record a conversation where you’re one inch away from
the microphone - it dynamically adjusts its recording to pick up whatever’s
going on in the room, no matter how large the room. Not so with the Voice
Recorder, which lacks even a switch to adjust the gain.
iTalk also has a port for an external microphone and a pass-through
headphone jack, features missing from rhe Voice Recorder and incorporated
into Belkin’s later and separate Universal Microphone Adapter ($39.99), though
you can’t use both at once in the iTalk. No matter: iTalk has what both the Voice
Recorder and Universal Microphone Adapter lack when combined: a superior
built-in speaker and great microphone.
We were impressed by its crisp rendition of voices, and its apparent lack of
noise when we listened through headphones. Ambient noise became more
noticeable (though still not bothersome) at a distance of thirty feet from the
built-in microphone, and it became hard to separate voice from background
with that microphone only at around the 40 foot mark. With the right external
microphone, this won’t be a major problem. It’s also worth noting that while
iTalk’s speaker outdoes Belkin’s, it’s still not great.
However, all three devices share a major limitation: the iPod is currently
constrained to recording in monaural WAV format sound at a mere 8 KHz,
which means that no matter how superb the microphone (or other audio
source) you connect, the recording quality will always be comparatively lowgrade, and because of the WAV format, will consume a megabyte per minute.
Until Apple lets the iPod record in high-quality stereo with AAC or MP3, the
iTrip and its competitors will fall short of their true potential.
First of its kind and second in our rankings:
Belkin’s Voice Recorder
Belkin’s Voice Recorder ($49.99) isn’t our favorite such iPod accessory, but it does
have its advantages - it comes with a protective plastic headphone plug guard, is
physically slightly smaller than the iTalk, and may be cheaper you order it during a
Belkin half-off sale or find it at the right retailer. But in terms of raw recording and
playback performance, we think that it’s a clear notch down, and lacks a composite
headphone and external microphone jack - so you’ll need the Universal Microphone
Adapter ($39.99) for that.
46
B
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Is Griffin Technology’s new RadioSHARK ($69.99) an iPod accessory? If
you’ve ever wanted to record FM or AM radio programs for later playback,
you’ll sure think so - RadioSHARK easily transforms radio broadcasts into
iPod-compatible digital music files. Griffin bills it as TiVo for radio, and
iPodlounge generally agrees.
Griffin Technology
RadioSHARK
Combining a large white fin, a chrome base, a USB cable and some
software, RadioSHARK makes radio recording simple. Install the software
on your PC or Mac, plug in the fin, and you’ll pick up FM and AM radio.
Like TiVo, you can easily “time shift” radio programming, pausing and
rewinding live broadcasts, or creating VCR-style timed or recurring
recordings of whatever you desire. Three lights on each side of the fin
glow blue to indicate power, and red when recording.
While pause and rewind may be of marginal use on live radio, timed
recording is unquestionably a killer feature - just ask any person who
loves Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh, or NPR. Or ask any teenager whose
favorite band will be performing on the radio at some inconvenient hour.
With RadioSHARK, just set the timer and listen whenever.
A-
Griffin’s software keeps the process simple and clean - nicer looking on
the Mac than on the PC, but otherwise functionally similar. We found
channel seeking and equalization to be as simple as possible, with a list
of EQ presets and 10 bands to tweak as you desire for bass, treble, and
midrange. Best yet, RadioSHARK integrates with iTunes, automatically
converting your recordings into uncompressed AIFF or compressed
MPEG-4 (AAC) format, then dropping them into an iTunes playlist of your
choice. Currently, you can record anything from pristine CD-quality audio
down to highly compressed but still listenable audio (64kbs). At that bit
rate, you’ll need around 30 megabytes of iPod space per hour of radio not bad, really, even if you have only an iPod mini’s space to play with.
Our only real issue with the RadioSHARK is that in an area with plenty of
radio interference, we had limited ability to cleanly tune AM and FM radio
signals - an antenna issue. We fixed the problem by adding and coiling a
USB extension cable ($8), and hope Griffin will offer a similar or superior
option in the near future. The RadioSHARK’s other limitations are relatively
minor and will likely be remedied by future software upgrades, as Griffin
has a good track record of supporting its products. But as currently sold, it
does pretty much everything radio we’ve wanted for the last 15 years.
Apple AirPort Express
B+
If the iPod revolution will be wireless - which Apple’s own job listings strongly
suggest that it will - the AirPort Express ($129.00) is highly likely to be one of its
hubs. Surprisingly PC- and Mac-compatible, AirPort Express is a pocket-sized
but complete 802.11B and G wireless base station and USB printer server,
but those aren’t its strong points for music fans. Apple’s already developed
AirTunes, software that lets music from iTunes play through any speakers
connected to the AirPort Express (using either a 3.5mm stereo audio cable or
optical TOSlink cable), and there have been hints from Apple that
surround-sound AirTunes support and eventually wireless iPod support may be
forthcoming. Even if they don’t, this is a cool and highly portable little product,
if a bit expensive for its practical functionality.
47
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
The iPodlounge Report Card. Hundreds of iPod and accessory
reviews from 2001 to today, squeezed into two simple pages.
Adapters and Cables
SendStation PocketDock Combo
SendStation PocketDock
SendStation FireWire & Line Out
Global Source Retractable USB/FW
Gadget Accessories USB Sync Cable
A
AB+
B+
D
Batteries
BTI’s The iPod Battery
BTI’s The iPod Battery ii
Belkin Backup Battery Pack
Gadget Accessories Battery Pack
A
AB
F
Car Mounts
Power Support Mobile Stand
Belkin TuneDok
ProClip in-car holder for iPod
Griffin PodPod
Pro Fit Ultimount
ABB+
B+
B
Car Power Chargers, Kits and Transmitters
SiK imp in-car charger/line out
B+
Dension ICE-Link Auto Integration Kit
B+
Belkin Auto Kit
B+
Sony CPA-9C Car Connecting Pack
B+
DLO New TransPod FM (Dock Connector) B
Monster iCarPlay Cassette Adapter
B
Monster Ultra Low Profile Charger
B
Monster iCharger
BDLO TransPod (for original iPods)
BDension ICE-Link 1.1 Auto Integration Kit C+
Griffin RoadTrip All-in-One Car Solution C+
Macally iPodCarCharger
D
Cases - 4G/HP iPod (with Dock Connector)
Contour Design Showcase
AMarware SportSuit Convertible
APower Support Silicone Jacket Set
AiSkin eVo 2
B+
Pacific Rim Technologies 4gShield
B+
Speck Products SkinTight 4G iPod Skin
B/BDLO Action Jacket 4G
C+
Cases - iPod mini
Vaja iVod mini
Power Support Square Type Sil. Jacket
Lajo exoflpmini
Tunewear Prie Classic Face Case
Matias iPod Armor mini
iSkin mini
Marware Convertible
Lajo exo3mini
DLO Jam Jacket & Pro mini
Power Support Crystal Jacket mini Set
Lajo exo2mini
Lajo exo2mini-fb
Speck Products Mini FlipStand
Vaja Classic case
Sena Detachable Flip
Tunewear Icewear
Speck Mini iStyle
iLeath Mini Print Case
Incase Handcrafted Leather Sleeve
A
A
A
A
AAAAAAAB+
B+
B+
B+
B+
B
B
B
B
B
B
How and why we rate products
iPodlounge reviews and rates iPods and accessories in order to
provide the iPod community with the honest, objective, and
comprehensive source of product information. Our letter grade
system was introduced in August 2004, replacing the icon-based
grading system shown to the right, in order to provide an easy to
understand but slightly more detailed summary of our conclusions.
A grades are awarded to only the very best products,
ones that we would highly recommend. An A- grade
indicates one or two small deficiencies that limit the
product’s universal appeal, and for reference, even the
original iPod would not have received an A+ grade from iPodlounge.
We haven’t awarded one yet, and may never do so.
A
B+ and B grades are awarded to very good and good
products, ones that we would recommend only to
specific audiences. A B- grade is on the fine edge of
“good” and “recommendable.” It indicates a product that
is better than average, but has a few medium to large issues that
crimp its appeal. We would typically recommend a B- product only
to people who really need its functionality.
B
C graded products are “okay” or “average” ones that we
neither recommend nor dislike. They perform all
C
of their stated functions acceptably, but may not be
attractively designed, well thought out, or appropriately
priced. A C+ grade indicates that the product was a little bit better
than average, but still not “good” or “recommendable.” The C- grade
indicates that the product was on the edge of being contemptable,
and though it worked substantially as promised, possessed some
serious design issues.
48
D graded products are ones that we actively
disliked for some reason. Typically, the reason is that
the product provided such substantially belowaverage design, performance or pricing that it was
nearly laughable by comparison to other available offerings.
Alternately, it may have been defective when we received it
or unfit for a major stated purpose because of poor design. A
D+ signals that we were on the edge of a C, but felt concerned
about the safety of the product. A D- means that the product
was close to historically terrible.
D
F graded products are loathsome. They were
either pointless or dangerous when we
tested them, or otherwise quite substantially failed
to conform to their promised levels of performance.
We do not award F+ or F- grades; a flat F is considered “failing”.
While we reserve the right to award either D or F grades to those
rare products that we receive for review in unsafe, defective
or materially damaged condition, we only award an F if such
defects could seriously damage end-users’ iPods.
F
GALLERIES
REVIEWS
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Cases - iPod mini (continued)
Marware Safari
Speck Products Mini Skin
Matias Clear iPod Armor mini
DC Shoes / Incase Sleeve
Marware Basic
Marware Runabout
Lajo exomini
DLO Action Jacket mini case
Bird-Electron POCO
B
B
B
BC+
C+
C+
C+
C
Cases - 3G iPod (with Dock Connector)
Lajo eXoflp
A
STM Cocoon case
A
Contour Design Showcase
A
MARWARE C.E.O. Classic 3G
A
Vaja i-Vod 3G
A
iSkin eXo2 Case
ASelf Design BodyMask
AGravis G-Pod
B+
Otterbox oPod
B+
iSkin eVo
B+
Matias iPod Armor
B+
Lajo eXo 2 Case
B+
Teski Roadie Case
B+
Marware CEO Glove 3G
B+
Eroch Studios Lilipod Waterproof Case
B+
Speck Products iSport
B+
Power Support Silicone Jacket Set
B
Teski Executive Leather Case
B
Lajo eXo 3
B
RadTech PodSleevz
B
Incase Sleeve 3G Case
B
Lajo eXo and eXo Inferno Cases
B
Terforma iSleeve G2
B
Monster iCase Travel Pack
B
Piel Frama Leather Case
B
Speck Products FlipStand 3G
B
iLeath Leather Print Case
BSpeck Products iPod Skin
BMacAlly PodCase Armband
C+
CaseClosed iPod Cases
C+
JAVOedge Design 1
C
Tune Belt iPod Armband Carrier
CMonster iSportCase
D+
Proporta Aluminum iPod Case
DCases - 1G & 2G iPods (no Dock Connector)
Vaja i-Vod
A
MARWARE C.E.O Classic Case
A
Incase Designs Pouch
A
XtremeMac Deluxe (New & Improved)
A
MARWARE SportSuit Convertible
A
Krusell Classic Case
AiGlove Leather Case
AXtremeMac Deluxe (Original)
A-
Cases - 1G & 2G iPods (continued)
Waterfield Designs Sooper Dooper
J.R. Hill & Co. iPod Sleeve Deluxe
Matias iPod Armor
Contour Design iSee
Groove Jacket
MARWARE SportSuit Sleeve
Vaja Classic Case
Incase Designs Sleeve
OP/TECH USA MP3i Pouch
The Pouch MP3 Player Carrying Case
Belkin iPod Case
NeoPod Neoprene Case
Speck Products FlipStand
Xigma Leather Case
Willow Design BiFold Case
Krusell Handit Case
OWC Pod Protector
AAB+
B+
B+
B+
B
B
B
B
BBC+
C+
C
C
C
Cleaners & Polishes
iCleaner
Ice Crème
B
C+
FM Transmitters
Griffin iTrip mini
Griffin iTrip
Belkin TuneCast II FM Transmitter
C. Crane FM Transmitter
Monster iCarPlay FM Transmitter
Dr. Bott iPod Connection Kit w/ FM Trans.
Irock! Wireless Music Adapter
Sonnet Podfreq FM Transmitter
AAB+
B+
C+
C
C
D+
Headphones & In-earphones
Ultimate Ears UE5c Custom Earphones
Etymotic Research ER-4S Earphones
Bose QuietComfort Aco. Noise Canceling
Sennheiser MX500
Sennheiser PMX60
Ultimate Ears UE-10 Pro Earphones
Sony MDR-E888LP Fontopia Earphones
Sony Fontopia MDR-EX70/71LP
Shure E2c Earphones
Future Sonics Ears Model EM3 Earphones
Macally Noise Reduction Headphones
Bluetake I-Phono BT420EX
Sennheiser PX200
Shure E3c Earphones
Apple iPod In-Ear Headphones
Macally Retractable Headphones
Griffin EarJams
HeadRoom iPod Earphone System
JAVOedge retractable earbuds
A
A
A
AAAAAB+
B+
B
B
B
B
B
C+
C+
C
D
iPods
Apple 3G iPod 15GB
Apple 2G iPod 20GB Mac
Apple 4G iPod: For New iPod Users
Apple 2G iPod 10GB PC
Apple 4G iPod: For Power Users
iPod mini: For New iPod Users
iPod mini: For Power Users
A
A
AAB+
B+
B+
Microphones & Mic Adapters
Griffin iTalk
Belkin Voice Recorder
Belkin Universal Microphone Adapter
AB
C+
Other
Griffin RadioSHARK
Power Support Crystal Film Screen Prot.
JAVOScreen
Belkin Media Reader
Belkin Digital Camera Link
MacSkinz Podskinz
SkinEFX iPod Stickers
AAB+
B+
B+
B
B
B
C+
Remotes
Apple Remote (for Dock Connector iPods) B+
Ten Technology naviPod
B
Speakers
JBL Creature II 2.1 System
Altec Lansing iMmini
JBL OnStage
Altec Lansing iM3
Tivoli iPAL
Altec Lansing inMotion
Monster iSpeaker Portable
A
AB+
B+
B+
B
C-
Stands & Cradles
Power Support Metal Gear Stand
Power Support Swivel Fix Stand
ModPod
Apple Dock (for Dock Connector iPods)
Pacific Rim Technologies iCradle
Bubble Design Habitat
PodStand
PodHolder
DVBaseLtd DVBase
Power Support Metal Gear Simple Stand
BookEndz iPodDock
iPodCradle
AB+
B+
B
B
B
B
B
BC+
C
C
iPodlounge spotlights new reviews on its main page several times each week, and provides an archive with
comprehensive reviews for all of the products above on our Reviews page (ipodlounge.com/reviews.php).
49
GALLERIES
FEATURES
A Brief History of iPod. Our Features section begins with a quick look
back at the past: key turning points in the making of the iPod dynasty.
2001
January 9: Apple introduces
iTunes software for the Mac,
which converts audio CDs into
compressed digital audio files,
organizes digital music libraries,
and plays Internet radio.
October 23: Unexpectedly,
Apple announces the first iPod
at a price of $399. Unlike most
(but not all) competing digital
audio players available at the
time, Apple relies on a hard
Evolution of the iPod
To date, Apple has introduced five major iterations of the
iPod portable digital audio player platform, referred to as the
first-generation (1G) through fourth-generation (4G) iPods, and
iPod mini. While the 1G and 2G iPods featured a FireWire data
port next to the top headphone port and hold switch, it was
removed from the top of all later iPods in favor of a bottommounted Dock Connector port with USB and FireWire cables.
Button placement also changed; the original collection of four
buttons surrounded the 1G and 2G iPods’ Scroll Wheels in a
concentric circle, but were transformed into round buttons
above the Scroll Wheel for the 3G iPod, and then integrated
into the face of the Click Wheels of the iPod mini and 4G iPod.
Finally, the wheel itself has changed. The 1G iPod used a wheel
that physically moved, but each subsequent iPod has used a
touch-sensitive, non-moving surface that emulates a wheel’s
movement - a subtle, yet unquestionably superior design.
disk for storage instead of flash
memory or interchangeable CDROMs, and uniquely focuses on
promoting the small size, power,
and ease of use of its device. The
first iPod has a 5 Gigabyte
storage capacity - enough for
over 1,000 songs - and works
only on Macs, using iTunes to
convert and organize music. Did
Apple release iTunes with the
2002
March 20: Apple announces a
10 Gigabyte (2,000 song)
update to the iPod for $499.
New iPods ship with the ability
to display business card-like
contact information, a feature
co-opted from early third-party
iPod software developers, and
some begin to wonder about
future PDA-like expansion of the
iPod’s abilities. At this time, the
iPod is still a Mac-only product, though
workaround
programs
that let iPods
work with
PCs begin to
trickle out.
October: By
this point, large
retailers Best Buy, Dell,
and Target have all started
to sell iPods. Sensing the appeal
of small high-capacity music
players, Creative releases the Nomad Zen Jukebox as a cheaper
(but still larger) competitor to
the iPod.
iPod in mind? According to an
official Apple timeline, development of the iPod began only six
months before its release.
November 10: Apple ships the
first iPod.
December 31: By the end of
2001, Apple has sold a meager
total of 125,000 iPods.
July 17: Four events, one day.
First, PC-compatible iPods are
unveiled, with MusicMatch software instead of iTunes. Second,
a 20GB iPod is introduced. Third,
10GB and 20GB models now
sport a new touch-sensitive
Scroll Wheel instead of an actual
moving wheel, which was easier
to damage. And iPod prices are
lowered, 5GB to $299, 10GB to
$399, with the 20GB model at
$499. However, all the new iPods
still connect only to computers
with FireWire ports, which are
far less common on
PCs.
December:
Apple unveils
its first and only
limited edition
iPods, featuring
the engraved
signatures or
logos of Madonna, Tony
Hawk, Beck, or No Doubt for
an additional $49. At a total price
of $548, these limited edition
iPods were for some time the
most expensive ever sold
by Apple.
2003
March: Microsoft announces
development of a new hardware
and software platform called
Media2Go, which combines
portable video and audio playback in a single device. Originally targeted for a holiday 2003
release, the devices are eventually renamed Windows Portable
Media Centers, then renamed
just Portable Media Centers
(PMCs), and delayed until late
2004. Microsoft hints that they’re
the company’s “iPod killer.”
April 28: Huge news: Apple unveils the “third-generation” iPod.
The new iPods are even thinner
and smaller than before, feature
a bottom Dock Connector port
rather than a top-mounted
FireWire port, and have entirely
touch sensitive controls. The
new iPods have higher capacities than 2G iPods offered for the
same prices: now 10GB (2,000
songs) is $299, 15GB (3,700
songs) is $399 and 30GB (7,500
songs) is $499. All the new iPods
now work on either Macs or PCs.
Apple also launches the iTunes
Music Store with 99 cent per
track ($9.99 per album) pricing
and a library of 200,000 songs.
Unfortunately, neither iTunes nor
the music store is available for PC
users, who are becoming a larger
part of Apple’s business.
May 1-4: Retailers begin to sell
third-generation iPods, and only
one week after launching the
Mac iTunes Music Store, Apple
has sold 1,000,000 songs.
October 16: Apple releases
both iTunes and the iTunes
Music Store (iTMS) for U.S.-based
PC users, phasing out support for
the less popular MusicMatch PC
software in the process.
June 19: Apple finally releases
USB 2.0-compatible cables and
drivers for 3G iPods, expanding
the range of iPod-friendly PCs.
June 23: Apple sells the one millionth iPod, more than a year and
a half after releasing the device.
September 8: Apple refreshes
the middle and top of the 3G
iPod line with higher storage
capacities at familiar pricing. A
20GB (5,000 song) model replaces the 15GB version at $399,
and a 40GB (10,000 song) model
replaces the 30GB version for
$499. Sales continue to be brisk.
Belkin and Apple jointly
announce voice recording and
digital photo storage peripherals
for the iPod, further and more
tangibly expanding the device’s
capabilities past music playback.
Apple also announces total iTMS
sales of 13,000,000 songs.
Packaging and Pack-ins
Early 2004
January 6: Apple debuts the
iPod mini, a diminutive 4GB
version of the iPod available in
five colors at $249. Despite an
impressive simplifying redesign
of the iPod’s control scheme and
casing, critical opinion of the
device is initially mixed because
of price and capacity concerns.
Apple simultaneously replaces
the $299 10GB entry-level iPod
with a 15GB model, and retailers
almost immediately discount
the discontinued 10GB model to
$249, further clouding the value
equation.
January 8: Out of nowhere, PC
heavyweight Hewlett-Packard
announces at the Las Vegas
Consumer Electronics Show
that it will license the iPod from
Apple rather than compete. HP
promises to release and sell a “HP
blue”-colored iPod by Summer,
and agrees to market iTunes
to its PC customers almost immediately.
February 17-20: Apple ships
its first iPod minis, and long
lines form at stores for its official
Friday on-sale date. Sell-outs
and near-sell-outs are reported
nationwide, and critical opinion
quickly turns in the device’s
favor.
March 25: Apple pushes back
the international release of the
iPod mini from April to July,
citing “much stronger than
expected demand” from U.S.
customers. Analysts report shortages of the miniature hard drives
required by Apple.
Apple also announces the sale
of the two millionth iPod, less
than six months after hitting
the one million mark.
50
GALLERIES
FEATURES
Most people focus on prices and Gigabytes, but an iPod’s pack-ins
can add considerable value for the dollar.
The original (1G) iPod included headphones, a FireWire cable, iTunes
software, and an AC adapter, while the 2G iPod came in different
flavors. A 5GB Mac version was the same as above, but the PC version
included a 4-pin to 6-pin FireWire adapter, and
MusicMatch software instead of iTunes. The 10GB and 20GB Versions
also included an iPod Remote and iPod Carrying Case.
Then the 3G iPod arrived. The 10GB ($299) package included slightly
new headphones, an AC adapter, a Dock Connector to FireWire cable,
a 4-pin to 6-pin FireWire adapter, iTunes software for Mac and MusicMatch software for PC. More expensive 15GB and 30GB ($399-499)
packages included a Dock, a new Remote Control, and new Carrying
Case. Later 15GB, 20GB and 40GB iPods included Mac and PC iTunes,
though the $299 15GB iPod did not include a Dock, Remote Control
or Carrying Case.
Apple’s iPod mini package was the first to include cables for both USB
and FireWire connections. It also includes headphones, a
plastic Belt Clip, AC adapter, and iTunes software for Macs and PCs.
Two versions of the 4G iPod package exist, both significantly stripped
in pack-ins. The 20GB model includes USB and FireWire cables,
headphones, an AC adapter, and iTunes, while the 40GB version also
includes a Dock. Neither includes a Remote. The iPod Photo has 3Glike pack-ins, plus a new AV cable and Photo Dock.
51
GALLERIES
FEATURES
Mid-2004 to Today
May 5: Apple announces the
sale of the three millionth iPod,
only four months after hitting
the two million mark. Analysts
widely acknowledge the iPod as
the digital audio market’s
dominant hardware format, and
make fewer positive references
to cheaper competitors.
June 15: Apple releases the
iTunes Music Store in three
European markets: France,
Germany, and the United
Kingdom. U.K. media outlets
complain that Apple doesn’t
have enough local independent
music in the catalog. One week
later, 800,000 songs have been
sold to European customers,
450,000 in the UK alone.
July 11-12: The iTunes Music
Store sells its 100,000,000th
downloaded song at around
1:25AM Eastern Standard Time,
July 12 (or 10:25PM Pacific
Standard Time, July 11), the first
legal music download service
to hit that milestone. Thanks to
an Apple contest offering a 17”
PowerBook laptop computer,
40GB iPod, and iTunes gift
certificate for 10,000 songs
(total estimated value: $13,200)
to the person who purchased
the 100,000,000th song, around
40,000 songs (total estimated
value: $39,600) were sold in
just the ten minutes before the
milestone was reached.
July 17-20: Leaked before the
official announcement, the
fourth-generation iPod debuts
online on the 17th. Boasting
improved battery life (12 hours),
iPod mini-style Click Wheel
controls and thinner bodies, the
4G iPods generate considerable
buzz and ship by the 20th. Called
lower-cost iPods, prices for the
new low-end (20GB, $299) and
mid-range (40GB, $399) units
look good until consumers
discover that numerous pack-ins
(Docks, remote controls, and
cases) have been stripped from
the new iPods’ packages.
July 21: Apple adds three top
European independent labels to
the iTMS catalog, placating the
few remaining critics of iTunes.
July 24: Apple releases the iPod
mini worldwide.
July 26: Motorola announces
that its next generation of cell
phones will be iTunes-compatible. RealNetworks releases Harmony, enabling songs sold by
Real to be played back on iPods
without Apple’s permission.
Sales of the iPod, 2001-2004
iPod sales increased steadily after the May 2003 release of the thirdgeneration iPod. Prior to that point, Apple had focused on
Macintosh users, and released the iPod without USB support - an
necessity if Apple wanted to win over mainstream PC users.
It took over a year and a half for Apple to hit the one million mark
for iPods sold, but in January 2004, only six months after the Tokyo,
Japan debut of the 3G iPod, the company had sold its second
million units. Four months later (May 2004), aided by the release of
the iPod mini, they’d sold another million iPods, and by August, 2004
they’d sold another million. Three months later, two million more.
All this, despite constant criticism from naysayers and competition
from both bigger names and cheaper alternatives. Go, go, iPod!
52
August 5: Apple announces
total sales of 3.7 million iPods.
August 10: The iTunes Music
Store library hits 1,000,000 songs.
August 25: Apple quietly begins
to search for wireless and video
experts to join its iPod division.
August 27: Hewlett-Packard
announces the “Apple iPod from
HP” (or “iPod+hp”), a repackaged
version of the 4G iPod with
new manuals and HP-supplied
technical support. Promising
availability by September 15,
HP begins to ship units almost
immediately, and announces
an iPod-compatible printer and
“printable tattoos” to cover iPods.
August 31: Apple announces
that it has 58% market share
of the U.S. digital music player
business, and plans a panEuropean iTMS for October.
September 7 - October 4:
Microsoft’s unofficial anti-iPod
public relations offensive starts.
Chairman Bill Gates says in an
interview that the iPod would
have been easy for Microsoft to
make. Next, while Internet-based
viruses plague Windows PCs, Microsoft announces that the next
Windows version will prevent
iPods from unleashing viruses on
PCs, though no such iPod attack
has been reported. Finally, CEO
Steve Ballmer publicly calls iPod
users music thieves, claiming
that Microsoft offers better copy
protection. He later apologizes.
October 12-14: Analysts report
that iPod sales are 82% of all
digital music players and 92%
of all hard-drive based players;
nearest hard drive competitor
Creative has 3.7%. Over 2,000,000
iPods were shipped inthe prior 3
months alone, and iTMS downloads hit 150,000,000, a rate of 4
million downloads per week.
October 26: Apple debuts the
iPod Photo ($599-$699) and U2
iPod ($349), noting sales of 6
million iPods to date.
September 1: iTMS hits 125
million downloaded songs.
Apple starts to market the iMac
G5 computer as “from the
creators of iPod.”
GALLERIES
FEATURES
Oprah’s $140k of iPods
Musicians Love iPods
In 2003, Oprah Winfrey named the
iPod one of “Oprah’s Favorite Things”
as part of her series of product
giveaway shows, and gave 15GB
($399) iPods to each member of
her 350-person studio audience.
But billionaire Oprah didn’t have to
drop $140,000 of her own cash for
the iPods: Apple donated them, and
Oprah didn’t even know how to use
one when it was on the show. (She
can afford to pay an employee to
program her playlists.)
And Apple loves musicians. The
company briefly released a series of
iPod boxes featuring the images of
Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Bob
Marley and Billie Holiday, has had
several artists create engraved
signature iPods, and included
performers such as Alicia Keys in
unveilings. Rapper 50 Cent held an
iPod in the video for P.I.M.P.. And
Apple currently runs TV spots
featuring U2 and the iTunesexclusive song Vertigo, say nothing
of their partnership for the U2 iPod.
High-Profile iPod Trivia
Most Expensive iPods
Prior to the iPod Photo, the most
expensive iPods sold by Apple
were $548 limited editions
laser-engraved with the buyer’s
choice of four names: the
signatures of musicians Beck or
Madonna, the logo of band No
Doubt, or the signature of pro
skateboarder Tony Hawk. Rap
tycoon Sean “P. Diddy” Combs’
diamond-encrusted iPod+hp
($16,000) is shown at left, and
below accompanied by bling
bling inMotion speakers.
Sales figures alone don’t come close to telling the iPod story:
Apple has a bona-fide cultural phenomenon on its hands.
Beloved by music fans and musicians alike, the iPod has become
the luxury gift of choice, a product only attacked by its
competitors and those who see the potential for lawsuit-related
dollars from Apple. Here, we spotlight some of the iPod’s key
supporters and detractors.
iPod-Related Legal Issues
Everyone guns for #1. French
authorities pushed Apple to
withdraw the iPod from France
until its volume was lowered
to meet E.U. decibel standards.
Canada sought to impose a
$315-840 tax per iPod based
on an outdated regulation, but
settled on $25.
And then there are the private
lawsuits. Apple Computer was
sued in the U.K. by Apple Corps,
holder of The Beatles rights,
allegedly for violating an earlier
agreement in which Apple
Computer agreed not to enter
the music business. In the U.S.,
Apple was sued by Eminem for
using his song Lose Yourself in
iPod ads without the rights. We’ll
skip over the class action battery
suits for now.
iPods Sold
6,000,000
5,000,000
4,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
0
Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3
2002
2003
2004
53
GALLERIES
BACKSTAGE
iPodlounge Backstage
The Editors’ Blog
Launched in July of 2004, iPodlounge Backstage is the first page
that hard core iPodlounge readers check for behind-the-scenes
and early details on iPodlounge stories. Billed as the combined
blog of iPodlounge’s editors, Backstage includes advance
information on upcoming reviews, features, and site news of
potential interest to iPodlounge readers. It also includes
tangential pieces vaguely related to official iPodlounge stories.
Who We Are, and What We Love
Editorializing on Pet Peeves: Microsoft and Sony
Most of the time, iPodlounge just laughs at
Microsoft and Sony’s weak attempts to slag
the iPod, but once in a while, we discuss
recent news developments relating to
proposed “iPod killers.” Sony’s PlayStation
Portable (PSP), once touted as “the Walkman
of the 21st Century,” was embarrassingly
compelled to do an eleventh-hour price cut
for Japanese launch when its launch library
and features failed to blow away analysts.
September’s Top Story: Danger’s Sidekick II
With so many web sites and technology publications floating around in the
marketplace, iPodlounge stands out for several unique reasons - one is its
emphasis on people, both on the editorial and community sides of the site.
iPodlounge’s Editors are more than just guys who love music and gadgets,
and iPodlounge Backstage is more than occasionally a place where the
Editors can drop the site’s formalities and talk to readers as themselves.
October’s Top Story: Rumors of a Color iPod
Though iPodlounge does not permit rumors to appear in the site’s news
pages unless they’ve been reported in the mass-media, we occasionally
address intriguing reports in Backstage - where we can make very clear
that we’re not discussing news, only idle speculation.
Early October saw the return of a several-month-old story that Apple
would release a color, 60-Gigabyte version of the iPod just in time for the
holidays, featuring the ability to display digital photographs and album art
on its screen. According to the rumor, Apple would advertise the device as
possessing a 20,000 song, 25,000 picture capacity. As with many rumors,
though the detais weren’t accurate in all the particulars, they eventually
proved close enough to the truth.
In keeping with the rumor, iPodlounge produced the depicted mock-up
graphic, which quickly spread to other sites. Prior iPodlounge and
iPodlounge Gallery graphic concepts and slogans (most recently,
“The iPod. Remixed.”) have found their way into official Apple iPod
advertising, so we (and our readers) keep churning them out for fun.
Just for Fun: The Dogs of iPodlounge
iPodlounge Publisher Dennis Lloyd started the trend by blogging about his
dog Rocket (“the official iPodlounge mascot”), a massive Labrador Retriever
who could swallow iPods whole if given the chance.
Then Senior Editor Jeremy Horwitz continued the trend by bringing home
a three-month-old Siberian Husky puppy named Sake (pronounced
Sah-kay, like the Japanese wine), now deemed “the iPodlounge Husky”.
Neither dog has actually used an iPod with earbuds yet, but one of them
has bitten through an iPod accessory (the iPod mini lanyard from STM’s
Cocoon) during an attempted iPod-dog photo shoot. Sake was brought
home to the sounds of an iPod playing Fantasia Barrino’s first EP, and he
whimpered until the music was turned off.
We don’t really think that the majority of our readers care about our dogs hence, this winds up on Backstage instead of the main iPodlounge web
site - but we occasionally like to share little snippets of what we’re doing
when we aren’t writing about iPods.
54
BACKSTAGE
GALLERIES
iPod competitors are a dime a dozen, but digital devices that complement
the iPod are few and far between. That’s why we jumped at the chance to
review Danger and T-Mobile’s Sidekick II, a brilliant hybrid of GSM wireless
phone, e-mail device, web browser, and AOL Instant Messenger client.
And review it we did - twice. In keeping with iPodlounge traditions, we
released comprehensive, world exclusive New Users’ and Power Users’
reviews of the device, complete with an extensive photo gallery and ten
days of hands-on testing. Our findings? The Sidekick II has the potential to
be the iPod of the dataphone world - no surprise, given that Danger’s staff
includes former Apple Computer employees. Even after returning our
review unit to Danger, we now use two on a daily basis, and can’t
remember what life was like without them. Remind you of anything small,
white, and musical you’ve purchased lately?
What’s Next for Backstage?
In theory, anything could appear on iPodlounge Backstage, and if
something’s of interest to iPodlounge’s editors, it will. We routinely
use the space to provide first mentions of new iPod accessories
we’ve received - before we’ve even had a chance to test them - and
we try to respond to the comment and discussion threads attached
to Backstage. Sometimes we’ll even hide an interesting nugget of
information in our comments, just for kicks.
As this issue goes to press, the following items are in the iPodlounge
review queue - which we attempt to update on the site on a weekly
or more frequent basis:
Battery Technology Incorporated’s iPod Auto/Air Charger
Bose SoundDock
Contour Design iSee-20 and iSee-mini
DLO Jam Jacket and Jam Jacket Pro 4G
Elecom ASP-700i iPod-Matching Speaker System
Griffin iBeam
Marware C.E.O. Classic 4G
iPodlounge
Marware MetroVue
backstage
Marware Santa
behind the scenes
Marware SportSuit 4G
Marware Trailvue
Newer Technology Replacement Batteries
Newer Technology RoadTrip! 107.7
Power Support Crystal Jacket 4G
Tekkeon myPower MP1100
Like all other sections of iPodlounge, Backstage is open to readers’
requests and suggestions. If you think you have the next great idea,
post it to backstage.ipodlounge.com!
55
GALLERIES
GALLERIES
iPods Around the World Galleries
Of the over 4,000 photographs in iPodlounge’s
Photo Galleries, nearly 3,000 are found in our
famous iPods Around the World gallery. With
pictures from all seven continents, this gallery
has itself earned praise from magazines around
the world; authorized reprints have appeared in
publications throughout Europe and Asia.
San Francisco Bay Bridge, California
North and South America
Beijing, China
iPod Monk, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Asia and Australia
Tin Shui Wai Park, Hong Kong
Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
Crown Fountain, Millennium Park, Chicago, Illinois
Deoksugung, South Korea
Opera House and Harbour Bridge, Sydney, Australia
Of the 2,800 photographs in the
iPods Around the World gallery,
one of the most memorable was
submitted by Scott Holbrook,
who appears here with an Apple
iPod at 90 South, “the Bottom of
the World.”
Machu Picchu, Peru
Chichen-Itza, Mexico
Kamakura, Tokyo, Japan
CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
56
iPods at the Bottom of the World
The Ceremonial South Pole at
Amundsen-Scott South Pole
Station is located in Antarctica,
and Scott’s shot completed
iPodlounge’s goal of having photos of iPods taken over all seven
continents. You can guess why this one was the toughest.
Up next: iPods in every country around the world.
57
GALLERIES
GALLERIES
Kremlin, Moscow, Russia
Saddam Palace, Baghdad, Iraq
Dune 45, Namibia, Africa
Middle East and Africa
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Europe
Swiss Mountains, Switzerland
Sphinx, Egypt
Undisclosed Location, Middle East
Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, Germany
Schifling, Carinthia, Austria
Kuwait Water Towers
Cape of Good Hope, Capetown, South Africa
Venice, Italy
Big Ben, London, England
58
Massi Mara Desert, Kenya, Africa
Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel
59
GALLERIES
GALLERIES
iPod Concepts
iPod Style Gallery
As one of iPodlounge’s newest galleries, iPod Style
challenges submitters to create fashionable, stylish
or sexy photographs of people with iPods. These
are some of our favorite entries to date.
60
As the home of iPod concept photographs that have been
reprinted with permission in publications such as Wired,
iPod Concepts is a place for iPodloungers to render and
display their dreams of future iPod and iPodesque devices.
61
GALLERIES
GALLERIES
Me and My iPod
Me and My iPod is a place for people-and-iPod photographs of any
stripe - serious, humorous, or something in-between. Started before
iPod Style, Me and My iPod was the inspiration for the latter gallery,
with more restrictive rules. These are some of our favorite entries,
featuring all sorts of ideas.
iPod Art
The iPod Art gallery gives iPodloungers a place
to blend photography, original artwork, and 3-D
computer rendering in a single place, often with
beautiful or just plain weird results. Some of the
more memorable recent entries appear here.
Promote iPodlounge
This small gallery is devoted to
photographs taken by people
who have tried to promote and
support iPodlounge in their
local communities. One person
drove with an iPodlounge
banner on his car for a week;
another passed out leaflets on
the streets of Dusseldorf,
Germany. Our readers are great.
62
63
GALLERIES
iPod Desktops
The new iPod Desktops gallery is a place for users to submit their
iPod- and iPodlounge-themed art and pictures that have been
formatted to work as PC and Macintosh desktop backgrounds.
GALLERIES
Cover Contest
Best Submissions
In announcing this Buyers’ Guide, iPodlounge sponsored a
contest to let readers create the issue’s cover. You’ve seen the
winning entry already; the entries on this page were some of
our other favorites.
Second Place Winner (above)
Bill Holt of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
64
65
iPOD 101
GALLERIES
iPod 101
Importing Windows Media
Audio (WMA) into iTunes
The iPod could hardly be easier to use. But Apple’s free music
management program iTunes occasionally confuses or stumps even
experienced digital music lovers.
While iPod 101 offers guidance on iTunes, our new iPod 201
series explores more advanced topics, including subjects that our
readers frequently raise for discussion and assistance.
In iPodlounge’s ten-part series iPod 101, we use step-by-step
pictoral guides to demystify ten of iTunes’ most useful features. You
can read the rest of the iPod 101 series on iPodlounge.com.
Because Apple hasn’t included this feature in iTunes, this tutorial
is the most anticipated and requested in iPodlounge’s history:
how to move music off of an iPod and back on to your computer.
If you have an iPod and a library full of music in Microsoft’s Windows Media
Audio (WMA) format, good news: there’s an easy way to convert that music
into iPod-friendly MP3 or AAC files. If you have iTunes and a PC, you won’t even
need another program to do the conversion.
Most likely because of concerns over piracy, iTunes makes it easy to transfer
music from a computer to an iPod, though not the other way around. But
there are legitimate and legal reasons a person would want to transfer
audio from the iPod to a computer: desktop hard drive failure, the purchase
of a new/replacement computer, distribution of iTunes Music Store
downloads to your five legally authorized computers, and so on.
There’s only one caveat: iTunes can only convert unprotected WMA files, such
as ones that you created yourself by converting your CD library into Windows
Media format. By contrast, WMA files legally downloaded from companies such
as Real, Napster, and MusicMatch can’t be converted by iTunes, so you’ll need
to use one of the alternative methods explained in the full iPodlounge.com
version of this article.
66
iPOD 201
GALLERIES
After loading iTunes, adding and converting unprotected WMA files to your
library is nearly identical to adding MP3 or AAC files. The process takes two
steps: set up iTunes’ Importing preferences, and add the files to your iTunes
library. iTunes will automatically convert the WMA audio for you.
While there are many third-party programs that perform iPod-to-computer
transfers, virtually all of them found in iPodlounge.com’s Downloads
section, we’ll mention only three popular ones here. For the PC, there’s
iPodAgent, a free program with many options in addition to the music
copying feature.For the Mac, there’s iPodRip, a $10 Shareware option with
a nice interface and iTunes playlist regeneration. And for both platforms,
there’s PodUtil, a £10 Shareware program which offers powerful copy
features and iTunes playlist regeneration. Since PodUtil’s interface and
features are identical on both platforms, we’ll show you how it works.
First, go to iTunes’ Importing preferences menu and select AAC or MP3
format. AAC files consume less space but will only play on iPods and iTunesequipped computers. MP3s are larger but more compatible. Then specify the
quality settings you prefer. Start by testing a few files first through earphones,
and don’t use a bitrate much greater than that of your original WMA audio files:
you’ll use more space and get little benefit. (For more guidance, see iPod 101:
How to Import CD Tracks to iTunes.)
Start on the computer you want to use as an iPod receiving station, and
make sure iTunes is installed. Then download PodUtil from the link found
at http://www.ipodlounge.com/downloads_list.php, and install it on the
computer. Next, connect your iPod to your computer using USB2.0 or
Firewire. Whatever you do, CLICK NO if and when iTunes asks you whether
you want to delete the content on your iPod. And ensure that “Enable Disk
Use” is selected for your iPod in the iTunes iPod Settings window.
Next, locate the WMA files on your PC. Begin with your “My Music” folder, contained within “My Documents.” If not, load Windows Media Player, right-click
any file in your “Media Library” , then select “Properties.” Once you’ve located
your WMA files, you can proceed to add your WMA files to your iTunes library in
one of two ways::
Now launch PodUtil. PodUtil will detect your iPod, examine its database,
and display a list of all of your tracks in the main window, with a listing of
your playlists on the left. In this window, you can search for tracks (in the
top right corner) or preview them straight off of the iPod by double
clicking on one.
Drag and Drop: Navigate to the items you’d like to add to iTunes in Windows
Explorer, select them, and drag them into the iTunes Library window or on top
of the “Library” icon in iTunes’ Source column. This works with individual WMA
files, multiple WMA files, and folders containing WMA Files.
Use the Menus: If you prefer the iTunes menu, choose either “Add File to
Library...” or “Add Folder to Library...” from the File menu. Select the files or folders you’d like to add, and click OK.
To prepare for the music copying process, you’ll need to make a few
choices. At the bottom of the main PodUtil window, pick the computer
directory where PodUtil should dump iPod music. Then, at the bottom
right of the main window, hit the “Copy Settings” button. PodUtil can create
separate subdirectories for each Artist and Album in your collection if you
select these two options. If you turn on the additional iTunes features,.
PodUtil will automatically add the copied songs to your library and recreate
your iTunes playlists -- two helpful features when restoring lost libraries.
Then click “Convert” and iTunes will begin the conversion process. That’s all you
have to do - pretty easy, right? You can monitor iTunes’ conversion progress
throughout each individual song in the Status window at the top of iTunes,
and see how the whole collection is coverting under “Source.”
Next, de-select the songs (either in the main track list or in individual
playlists) that you don’t want to transfer to the computer. When only the
correct tracks are selected, click “Copy” in the bottom right of the main
window to begin the process!
The iTunes conversion process makes copies of your music, leaving behind the
WMA Audio, which you can preserve or delete as you prefer. When the
conversion has finished, you will most likely want to delete your original WMA
audio files to save hard drive space. The iTunes conversion process makes
copies of your music, leaving behind the WMA Audio.
When the upload is complete, you’ll have a directory (or, if you selected the
appropriate options, an iTunes Library) full of your iPod music. With only a
few button clicks, you have now transferred your iPod’s entire music library
to your computer. This little program - and others like it- take a
painstakingly complex process and reduce it to a few easy button clicks.
Now if only Apple would include the same feature in iTunes...
iPod 201
Transferring music from your
iPod back to your computer
Other iPod 101/201 Articles on iPodlounge.com
101 | How to Import CD Tracks to iTunes
101 | How to Create Playlists in iTunes
101 | How to Create Smart Playlists in iTunes
101 | How to Burn a CD in iTunes
101 | Tagging Songs in iTunes
101 | Adding Album Art in iTunes
101 | Printing CD Covers and Lists in iTunes
101 | Using Party Shuffle in iTunes
101 | Using the iTunes Music Store
201 | iPod Synchronization
201 | Using Your iPod as a Hard Drive
201 | Moving Your iTunes Library to a New Drive
67
HELP!
GALLERIES
HELP!
GALLERIES
Help! at iPodlounge. Every new iPod owner needs help with
something - or many things. This is the place on iPodlounge.com
where you can find the answers to your questions, for free.
iPodlounge FAQs
Compiled over the course of more
than three years and updated
recently, iPodlounge’s Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs) deal with
the most common minor issues
raised by iPod owners and fans.
We’ve included representative
questions and answers from each of
the FAQs’ five sections.
iPod General
Q: Are there any differences
between the HP iPod and Apple’s
most recent (4G) iPod?
A: The Apple iPod and the HP iPod
are the same as far as function and
appearance. The only differences are
that the HP iPod comes preformatted to work on Windows and
includes a Windows installation CD,
the HP logo appears on the back of
the HP iPod, and the box is blue and
white with “iPod+hp” and a “people
photo” on it.
iPod Usage
iPod Windows
Q: My iPod is frozen on the playback
screen! Or, my iPod will not turn on
or respond! What do I do?
Q: When running the iPod Software
Updater program, the Updater
progresses to just about the end,
then I receive a Can’t Unmount iPod
error. What should I do?
A: Press the “Play/Pause” and the
“Menu” buttons together and hold
them in for about 5 to 10 seconds until the Apple logo appears. This
will reset (reboot) your iPod. On
older iPods, this may also reset your
clock, but this won’t happen on any
of Apple’s current models.iPod Mac
Q: My iPod does not show up as an
icon in Finder or on my Mac’s
desktop. How can I use it as an
external FireWire drive?
A: Select “Enable FireWire disk use”
in iPod Preferences in iTunes. This
option is off by default. Connect your
iPod to your Mac, then start iTunes.
Select your iPod in the source list on
the left and click the iPod icon in the
lower right corner of the screen.
��
��
��
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A: This is usually caused by some
other program accessing the iPod
drive. Try to shut down any programs
that could be accessing the iPod,
such as anti-virus programs. But
sometimes even that won’t do it.
But there’s still hope. When the error
appears, it is OK to disconnect the
iPod from the computer. The iPod
will then flash an icon indicating
that you should connect the iPod to
your computer. Make sure that your
cable supplies power to the iPod, as
it needs external power to finish the
Restore/Update process.
A progress bar will appear on the
iPod and when done the Updater
program will indicate that the
Restore has succeeded.
Sometimes goofy but often
interesting, the Tips and Tricks page
of iPodlounge features twenty little
bits of information that can help
you hack or squeeze the most out
of your iPod. Visit the full page full of
How-To guides at www.ipodlounge.
com/tips.php.
1. How to set up your iPod to put
you to sleep
2. How to keep songs in your library
(and therefore on your iPod) but not
on your harddrive
3. How to copy songs from iPod to
your PC
4. How to open an iPod without
scratching it
5. How to copy music files from iPod
to PC using Musicmatch
6. How to access your hidden music
files on iPod (Mac)
7. How to resume playing a song
with manual shutoff
8. How to copy your hidden or music
files from iPod to Mac
Service | Repair | Warranty
9. How to scan your iPod’s hard disk
drive
Q: How much does it cost to repair
an out-of-warranty iPod?
10. How to use iTunes to play your
iPod “through” a second Macintosh
A: Out-of-warranty repair pricing is
$249.00 for replacement: labor, parts,
and a 90-day guarantee on
materials and workmanship and
$6.95 for shipping.
11. How to disassemble and clean
your iPod’s mechanical Scroll Wheel
12. How to remove scratches and
polish your iPod
13. How to set up your iPod to “scrub”
a song
14. How to set the volume levels for
your MP3s
15. How to set up your iPod to
resume audiobook playback
��
68
Official Apple Links
Tips and Tricks
16. How to access the hidden Breakout game (old iPods only)
17. How to reset your iPod
18. How to make songs appear at
the top of your “Artists” list on your
iPod
19. How to initiate the iPod’s Diagnostic Mode
20. How to connect your iPod to a
non-powered FireWire PCI card
Battery Advice
Apple squelched most of the
controversy over iPod battery life by
releasing the iPod Photo (rated for 15
hours playback), fourth-generation
iPod (rated for 12 hours of playback)
and iPod mini (which exceeds its
8 hour rating), but owners of older
iPods still have questions as to the
playback time and lifespan of their
batteries. That’s why we’ve included
a direct link to our official battery
discussion thread from iPodlounge’s
Navigation Bar.
Currently at 13 pages in length,
iPodlounge’s official battery thread
includes answers to virtually every
question you might have about an
iPod’s battery. Topics ranging from
performance tests to replacement
options and comparisons between
various generations of iPod hardware
are examined.
If all else fails, contact Apple. We
say that only half-jokingly, as the
company now offers only a single
telephone support call per customer
per iPod. But Apple does have a
sizeable database of online support
documents, and iPodlounge has a
map to the best of them.
Visit iPodlounge’s Apple Links page
at www.ipodlounge.com/links.php
for easy access to Apple’s download
pages for iPod manuals, the
company’s official FAQs, and a
search form to find whatever you
need at the company’s official web
site. Though not as comprehensive
as what you will find by searching
iPodlounge’s forums and main site,
many obscure questions and issues
have been documented by Apple,
so their pages are worth a look.
iPodlounge’s Apple Links page also
includes links to Apple’s historic
software updates for the iPod, plus
official tips on how to use the iPod,
iPod mini, and iTunes. Historians
interested in the evolution of the
iPod may find the links to be
amusing - or enlightening.
Still need help? Your next step should be a search
of the iPodlounge Discussion Forums (old and
new), which feature years’ worth of questions and
answers from iPod users just like you. If you can’t
find the answer after a search, post your question,
and you can be sure that someone will answer it in
short order. The friendly iPodlounge forum
community (next page) helped us make
Time Magazine’s 2004 list of 50 best web sites.
69
FORUMS
GALLERIES
Joining the Discussion Forums. An iPod’s more than a device - it’s
an invitation to join a friendly and growing community. See why over
33,000 registered users call iPodlounge’s forums their home.
Joining the iPodlounge forums couldn’t be easier, and of
course, registration is free. You create a unique user name
and an iPodlounge forums password, entered twice for
combination. We don’t request any personal information
from our users, except for a valid e-mail address. Some
users choose to add details and graphics to customize
their accounts, as illustrated below.
GALLERIES
FORUMS
It’s no surprise that the iPodlounge forums concentrate largely on iPodrelated themes, positive and negative. There are dedicated forums for
different pieces of important iPod software, different types of iPods and
their problems, and of course, music and general discussion forums.
At the top of the list is the iPodlounge User Group News forum. By
registering for the forums, you’re automatically registered as a member of the
iPodlounge User Group, and entitled to participate in online meetings and win
giveaways. If you’re a new user to discussion forums, you’ll also want to read
The Forums Policy to get a sense of acceptable and unacceptable message
posting conduct. You can leave site-related comments in the Feedback &
Suggestions forum, if you have them.
There are five General forums, one each for the iPod, iPod (PC version), iPod
(Mac version), iPod mini, and iTunes. These catchall forums are the right places
to look and post when none of the more specific forums below is more
appropriate. You’ll find discussions on the best deals on iPod hardware, iPod
Battery discussion, and how to prevent iPod scratches.
Once you’ve registered, you’ll be presented with a set of
nine buttons, some information about your iPodlounge
account, and details on the current status of the forums.
The “User CP” panel lets you change your password and
options, send and receive private messages from other
iPodloungers, create buddy lists, and subscribe to specific
forums and discussions. You can also use the “Members”
button to locate other members, and the “Search” button
or window to find messages.
Immediately below that, you’ll see iPodlounge’s
complete list of 33 public discussion forums. We’ll go
through the list on the next page. Clicking on the
orange highlighted forum title will bring you to a list of
messages specific to that subject. If you don’t know where
to find the subject you’re looking for, use the “Search”
window or button.
Once you’ve entered a forum, you’ll see a collection of
discussion titles, the number of replies, the number of
times the discussion has been viewed, and the last time
the discussion was updated. This information gives you a
quick idea of whether other people are interested in the
topic, and how up to date it is.
Again, clicking on any of the orange titles will bring you
directly into the specific discussion you select. The big
green button at the top right lets you create your own
discussion if no one’s talking about a subject that interests
you. And you can use the “Search This Forum” box to look
solely within one forum, such as searching only the iPod
Windows forum for “error message.”
We also have four Problems forums, one each for the iPod, iPod (PC), iPod
(Mac) and iPod mini. These are the first places to visit if something’s wrong with
your iPod - the chances are good that you’re not the first person to experience
the issue, and someone has likely solved it. iPodlounge also has a Service |
Warranty | Repair forum if you need advice on a major repair.
Then there are two Gear forums, one for the iPod and one for the iPod mini.
These forums contain discussions and user-submitted reviews of iPod accessories, and iPod Gear is broken up into special forums for Cases, Ear/Headphones,
and In-Car Solutions. Reviews and opinions found here do not represent the
official views of iPodlounge, but may be useful anyway.
There are also forums for iPod software and service providers, such as Audible.
com+iPod, Anapod Explorer, EphPod, Media Center 9, MusicMatch
Jukebox, and Xplay. Company representatives visit these forums, and
sometimes the iPod Mac Software (General) and iPod Windows Software
(General) forums to provide product support. iPodlounge also provides
unsponsored, unofficial forums for iTunes Mac and PC versions.
We also have three Music forums, one for general discussion, one for techie
discussion of Digital Audio Formats, and one called Music Explorations
for recommendations of music that other users might enjoy.
A few fun forums let users reach out to the iPodlounge community - iPod
Polls lets people survey iPodloungers for their thoughts on various iPodrelated subjects, Your iPod Stories is a surprisingly robust forum for people to
share their positive experiences relating to iPods, and The Future iPod is for
speculation and discussion of Apple’s next hardware evolutions. iPod
Classifieds is for posting of “for sale,” “wanted,” and “trade” notices, typically
iPod and accessory-related.
Finally, there’s The Lounge, a general discussion board for the iPodlounge
community to hang out and discuss anything “except politics, religion, or
personal computing platforms.” And maybe that restriction explains why this is
one of the most popular boards on iPodlounge...
70
71
DOWNLOADS
GALLERIES
iPodloungeBuyers’
Buyers’Guide
Guide
iPodlounge
Free and Shareware iPod
Software. Some of the best tools
for the iPod are available for free
download or modest fees.
This section is sponsored by Migo. Carry and
access your Outlook Email, Desktop, Favorites
and Files on any computer, wherever you go.
Apple iTunes
BiblePod
Thirty free or cheap iPod tools
are linked through iPodlounge’s
Windows Downloads page
(www.ipodlounge.com/
downloads_windows.php). And
some of our favorites below are
both PC and Mac compatible.
iPodAgent (free) lets you
download news, horoscopes,
your e-mail, contacts and
calendar information to your
iPod, as well as doing simple
iPod-to-PC music transfers, plus
PC-to-iPod data transfers.
Apple’s iTunes (free) is the
easiest way to create and
organize your personal digital
music library for use on an iPod.
If you haven’t upgraded iTunes
since you purchased your iPod,
it’s time to download the latest
version - an essential tool.
iPodLibrary (free) lets you read
eBooks, PDF, HTML and more on
your 3G, mini or 4G iPod.
BiblePod (free) lets you transfer
books and chapters of the Bible
to your iPod.
PodPlayer (free) installs a
program on your iPod that lets
you easily play back the iPod’s
contents when you’re connected
to a computer. It also includes
iPod cleanup and other handy
little features.
CopyPod (free) lets you transfer
music from your iPod to your PC.
EphPod (free) provides similar
functionality, plus the ability to
make easy changes to your
entire iPod library’s data tags
(artist, album, genre, etc.).
euPOD PRO (free) lets you
remove the volume limitations
of an iPod purchased in the
European Union, and boost the
volume of non-EU iPods as well.
You can also change the iPod’s
battery meter and encrypt iPod
data. Use at your own risk.
euPOD PRO
72
iArt (free) gives you an easy
way to acquire album art for the
songs in your iTunes collection.
While its success rate isn’t
perfect, it’s easier than locating
pictures all by yourself.
There are over a hundred other iPod tools and
programs available via links from iPodlounge,
including a wide variety of applications developed
by Apple for the Mac OS X platform, Linux programs, and legacy utilities
for the earlier Mac OS 9. We also offer support forums (www.ipodlounge.
com/forums) for developers of popular freeware and shareware iPod
applications, and comment threads for each program.
Mac OS X Software
Windows PC Software
Palm2iPod (free) lets you
transfer the contents of your
Palm Address Book and Date
Book to the iPod.
Pod Secret (free 7-day trial,
$29.95 to register) lets you store
encrypted notes, credit card info
and data on the iPod.
Red Chair Anapod Explorer
($25) is a music manager that
includes full iPod Windows
Explorer integration as a device
in My Computer, web page interface access to your iPod through
a built-in web server, and search
and reporting capabilities using
a built-in SQL database.
SharePod (free) lets you share
the music on your iPod over a
network without installing larger
and more intrusive iPod management programs. For use with
legally shareable music only.
DOWNLOADS
GALLERIES
iPodlounge
Buyers’Guide
Guide
Mac users can choose from even
more free and low-priced iPod
software than PC users. Nearly
100 programs are linked for
download (www.ipodlounge.
com/downloads_macosx.php),
and excluding the Mac versions
of PC programs listed to the left,
these are some of the best.
AppleScripts for iTunes and
iPod (free) automate a huge
host of iPod tasks, such as supereasy backup of iPod files to DVDs
or CDs, turning copied Clipboard
text into iPod notes, and more.
Book2iPod automatically
formats large text documents
into iPod-readable notes.
Dot-Pod (shareware, $30.00) lets
you share your iPod’s tracks with
the world by making its contents
appear as web pages, viewable
by any browser. Dot-Tunes (free)
does the same thing with iTunes
tracks. For use with legally
shareable music only.
El iPodo (free) lets you browse
the iPod’s hard drive and copy
files to your computer.
iPod It ($14.95) lets you download weather forecasts, driving
directions, Entourage e-mail,
events, and notes to your iPod.
iPod.iTunes (29.90 Euros) lets
you synchronize your iPod with
multiple Mac computers.
Linux Software
iTrip Station Finder (free) tells
you empty radio frequencies
that are best used with Griffin
Technology’s iTrip devices.
iVolume ($7) normalizes the
volume levels of all of your music
tracks so that you won’t have to
fidget with your iPod’s volume
controls. Works without
changing your music files.
PodMail (free) transfers e-mails
from POP, IMAP and .MAC
accounts to your iPod, along
with an index (including date
and size information).
Pod2Pod (free) makes an exact
clone of one iPod’s contents to
another iPod or your hard drive.
Pod2Go (free 15-day trial, $12)
lets you download lyrics, news,
movie listsings, weather, stock
quotes, driving directions,
and more to your iPod. It can
also perform backups of your
computer’s files to your iPod.
PodWriter (free) lets you write
notes for your iPod.
Py4iPod (free) lets advanced
computer users download baseball standings, scores, statistics
and rosters to their iPods, as well
as reading Palm Desktop Dates
and creating monthly calendars
for the iPod. Requires use of
Python software.
Text Reader (free) turns text
files into audio files that can be
played back on your iPod.
While Linux hackers have
focused lots of their attention on
making the iPod itself run the
Linux operating system, the
Linux collection of iPod utilities is
small. The six utilities linked from
iPodlounge are:
El iPodo
GNUpod (free), which lets the
iPod operate until Linux and
UNIX-like operating systems.
gtkpod (free), which lets users
upload songs and playlists to the
iPod, plus have access to simple
ID3 tag tools.
GUIpod (free), a graphical front
end for managing songs and
playlists on Linux. (6)
iTrip Station Finder
iPod on Linux (free) lets you
transfer Palm vcards to the iPod,
back up the iPod, and use the
iPod with the Linux OS.
myPod(free) is a platform-independent Java application that
permits iPod music and
playlist transfers.
SyncPod (free) lets you sync a
local directory or playlists with
the iPod.
This section sponsored by Migo. Carry and
access your Outlook Email, Desktop, Favorites
and Files on any computer, wherever you go.
73
CONTEST
GALLERIES
Rhyme Gallery. iPodlounge readers from around the world submitted
rhymes in competition for a pair of Ultimate Ears UE-5c headphones.
Who won them? Read on and find out.
My Apple iPod is HOT-TO-GO
H-O-T-T-O-G-O
Ahwoo, good the go!
Ahwoo, on the go!
A thousand CDs to mp3s
There’s no match to this fire of
speed
Ahwoo, there’s no chance!
Ahwoo, blazed my pants!
The slickest thing I’ll ever have
Suited in jackets in all kinds of
flav’s
Ahwoo, you’re so fine!
Ahwoo, you blow my mind!
But it’s the world of music that
sets me free
As playlists crank the tunes for
me
Ahwoo, it’s on the glow!
Ahwoo, the playa’ knows!
My Apple iPod is HOT-TO-GO
H-O-T-T-O-G-O
Ahwoo, good to go!
Ahwoo, on the go!
– Carlson Hui , Canada
See it here and hear it there.
You can take it everywhere.
She’s got one there, but she
won’t share; it’s aged yet new,
and now black too.
It’s gold and blue and pink and
green, and now there’s colors on
its screen.
There going fast so grab one
now, the iPod Guide will show
you how...
Grab Your iPod and A Few
Accessories As Well
– Stephen Wald
I was always doubtful, never sure
Uncertain what I was looking for
But now I know there is a GOD
cause he created the iPod
– Jules (mysticalguacamole)
We’re going back a decade or
two
To a time when something didn’t
exist for you.
Remember the 80s. As if!
Omigahd!
And what didn’t exist? Like, the
awesome iPod!
Gag me with a spoon! Can you
believe this?
What did people do without
portable bliss?
No way! Back then, you had a
boombox on your shoulder.
Now you carry everything in a
little iPod holder.
I’m, like, totally freaking out here.
Fer sher! To the max!
But then I totally remember my
iPod, and start to relax.
Dude. The iPod is tubular. Fly!
Trippendicular. Wicked! No one
can deny!
– Heather Cowley
An iPod Guide for buyers here,
a better service its right here.
Go no further and you’ll see
what our guide can do for you
and me.
Pass it on to all you know and
make someones iPod love the
easy flow.
– Gabriele Wood
Oh iPod, oh iPod, where can
you be
I searced the world over and you
I did not see
Ultimate Ears UE-5Cs that will
keep me well in tune
I have heard that you do not
linger on shelves very long
I wait in line at the department
store to find that you are gone
Way back in France in the 16th
century,
Entertainment was elementary,
So to save his brain from being
ossified,
Rene Descartes sat and
philosophised,
‘Cogito ergo sum’ he stated’
...’I think, therefore I am’
(translated)
In truth were he alive today,
He’d see things in a different
way,
Designed with intelligence, wit
and elan,
Of course!
‘iPod, therefore I am!’
I tried to sneak up on you in the
salesmans cart
But when I reached in I hurt my
hand on a broken dart
So for now I must just dream of
you and the day my wish will
come true
that I will someday find you and
wont be forever blue
And the day when I get you, I
know it will be soon
I’ll need a Set of custom-fit
– Rose Bruson, Alabama
– Nick Scahill
It’s the iPod you want
The iPod you need
The thing that may change
The way that you feed
The sound of a past
Of scratches and dust
Brought to life as it has
Your collection rebirthed
Tunes all forgotten
And lyrics erased
Songs that you heard
On days out of fase
– Henk Cortier
2004-10-27
GALLERIES
CONTEST
04:48:52
I need, not want that thing
called iPod.
Promise not to play music like
Stewart, Rod!
My favorite music is that of
Black Flag.
Won’t catch on it a Team
called Tag.
Rock is where you’ll find
my Heart
Been a fan of Nancy Wilson since
the start!
C
M
Y
They’ll come by in a minute
Or maybe next week
No dust and no scratches
Just ripped in concrete
Your voice will start singing
Your feet move to dance
That’s just the beginning
Of a brandnew romance
– Ton Ensing
iSerenity
Cool fall winds, my pod in hand,
The day’s not going like
I planned.
But here I stand, between
these trees,
This hammock gently
beckons me.
It’s after noon, I’m late again,
I should call, but don’t
know when.
The phone’s inside, but here
I am,
Swaying gently, pod in hand.
I see the birds, I see wind,
But I hear neither, and crack
a grin.
My music takes me, far away,
Headphones in, as I sway.
Another day, another night,
Time is racing, out of sight.
Days go by, but here I lie,
And realize I’m a lucky guy.
– Jason Stirman
Vini, Vidi, iPod
buyer.ai
CM
7,500 song storage capacity
MY
Touch pad technology, easy
to learn
Natural to navigate, no CDs
to burn
CY
CMY
K
Status earphones of white
Luminous pink backlight bright
Macintosh and PC compatible
Perfect sound, impeccable
Stainless steel sleek,
fashionista’s best
Status symbol, outsells the rest
– Sharon Ogomori
This cool white iPod holds
thousands of songs
And everyone wishes to own
one without waiting too long
It’s the hottest item, and its
simplicity amazes
Pull it out your pocket, and it
momentarily dazes
Everyone, ‘cause it’s so compact
and sleek
No one can take their eyes off its
attractive physique
All white in the front, with a gray
Click Wheel
It’s so darn smooth, touch this
slick feel
The mirror-like back is almost like
pure chrome
This is a rhyme written for
free stuff,
At least I’m honest, maybe
enough, I love my iPod, it brings
joy to my life,
It’s my white and silver beauty,
my wife,
If ever I’m down at night,
My iPod always surprises me
with some Barry White,
If you’re not disturbed by now,
I don’t know why,
The way this rhyme is going is
almost as bad as American Pie,
On that note, changing
the subject,
Or else with the rules, this rhyme
you will reject,
Ode to iPod! Oh boy, Tastes like
chicken if used as a chewing toy!
The loss of a dear friend
is hard to bear.
You have cried for so long,
but there’s just no last tear.
You have drowned your sorrows
right from the start,
but there’s not enough liquor
to fill the hole in you heart.
He was your other half,
all that you lacked.
But your iPod is gone,
you have to face the fact.
– Karl Martensson
– Nick Chan
You’ll keep it with you always,
from school to secure home
– Charles Li
74
75
GALLERIES
CONTEST
Rhyme Gallery, continued
Winning Entry: iRiddle
Could it be only an
illusion of sight?
Whether your screen be
blue or white,
10,000 stories in my pocket.
How so you ask?
Riddle me this,
Riddle me that.
White as pearl,
Shiny as silver,
Beautiful perfection
never nearer.
Frailty thy name is not,
a peerless challenger of
times putrid rot.
A Beautifully Orchestrated
Quatrain of Ruby Red Glow.
A Shell as pure, as white as
freshly packed snow.
And though you
cry and curse,
slander the wicked
enigma of this verse,
Riddle me this,
Riddle me that,
How could I ever go back?
– Ti Simpson
Tupelo, Mississippi
Congratulations to Ti
Simpson, who wins a pair
of Ultimate Ears UE-5c
headphones ($550 value)!
IPod, IPod, everybody has
an IPod
Not I, IPod I don’t have an IPod
If you have an IPod you get a
friendly Nod
So let me win this contest so I
can have an IPod
– Colleen Goldrick
South Amboy, New Jersey
before the ‘pod
I couldn’t hear
the music I wanted
I was in dispair
there’s two kinda folks
in this funky music world
with my tunes at my fingertips
music is always on my lips
happiness
lyrical bliss
– “ANNMUTH”
Dear iPod, we give thanks to
thee for many a listen. With one
swift approach to your “Play”
button, your internal hardware
gracefully marks the song of
which is affable to my aural
tastes.
It is you, whom we cherish, and
it is you, with whom we will
perish. May we be bound by
no one
nor for no one, but by a love
which may only be described
as illimitable, interminable, and
immutable.
As part of this community much
distinguishable from the rest,
I speak for all when I say that
iPod is the best.
– Wes Gad
When I’m in need of music to go,
I grab onto iPod, And on with
the show...
I wiggle and giggle, singing
along.
Then run to the computer
to download “one more” song.
When I finally get to start making
my way, I decide to stay home
with iPod
And play all the day
– Linda Zid
Chicago, Illinois
iThought iPod
iBought iPod
iHear iPod
iHear itLoud
iLike iPod
iT soundsSoGood
iLike iPod
iThink youWould
have ipod or ipod envy
whether its rock, pop
or audible books
those little white cords
have everyone hooked
you can hum, dance
or sing out loud
just check those podders
enjoying the crowds
they’re kinda exy
no radio or vid
but you don’t want one?
who you trying to kid!?
Do what you have to
beg, borrow or debit
ipod your xmas
your soul wont regret it
– Peter White
Sydney, Australia
I love my iPod so much,
It’s sensitive to the touch.
It holds my song.
It holds my books,
and everyone loves the way it
looks!
– Debbi Kalstein
Southampton, Pennsylvania
This is my entry to the rhyme
contest, promptly named “Music
and Me”
I grab my iPod.
I then press play.
All the stress fades away.
The style, the rhythm,
The soul, the beat.
All of which make me complete.
I skip the next track,
A jazzy groove.
My shoulders start to sway,
My feet start to move.
Before I know it,
I’m stepping in sync.
No matter the music,
The iPod’s my link...
– Joshua Mattick
In the classroom, the iPod
did blast,
tunes from the present and past.
The teacher walked in,
and said with a grin.
Something worth hearing in
school, at last!
Roger Maier
El Paso, Texas
iPod, iPod,
a techies dream,
even for slow and dimwitted
it’s for all music lovers, it
seem’s.....
small and compact,
sleek and new,
I’ts time that I bought one,
How about you?
From Country to Metal
it doesn’t pre judge
An iPods my choice
and I surely won’t budge!
– Dayna Herz
Bangor, Maine
CONTEST
GALLERIES
From those shopping along
Princes Street
Or walking in the Highlands
To the students in St Andrews
And those living in the Islands
What Scots all have in common
Right across the nation
Is the love of all things music
That’s why iPods a revelation!
Downloading all the music
That you could choose to hear
The playlist is a godsend
It’s a reason for good cheer
So, if you love your music
It’s a cool click wheel away
Apple’s AAC technology
Puts the future here today.
– Jamie Smith
United Kingdom
IPods are great, they are new.
Unfortunately I still dont own
one, Im one of the very few.
IPods are HOT, IPods are COOL.
Everyone one wants one to take
to school.
Country, Rock, Rap and Pop
I just can’t seem to wanna stop.
I want to dance and sing along
With an IPod playing song.
Please do a good deed
Because its a iPod I
desperately need.
– LISA
I often pause during the day to
thank God for my wonderful,
cutting-edge iPod.
Resplendent with customfit Ultimate Ears, any worldy
interference it clears.
When in the IPodlounge I rest,
knowing I’m in the hands of the
best.
It’s easy to find state-of-the-art
reviews and the latest, greatest
iPod news.
The buying guide contains much
more than other web sites or an
electronics store.
Wonderful things like the Speck
Products IPod Skin or the Power
Support crystal film so thin.
So I offer a heartfelt “Thank You”
for providing the service you do.
– Janet Ross
My iPod
The iPod
I truly want to own an iPod
and not just borrow from
cousin Todd!
It was be so awesome, groovy,
and cool
but I’m sure my son would take it
to school!
WOW, all of the mega tunes I
could store
and the hottest songs that
we adore!
We would be so HIP, so IN,
so TODAY
oh iPod please, please, please
come my way!
So many choices of colors
and kinds
We would be extremely greatful
and out of our minds!
iPod you most definately RULE
you are better than any jewel!
You see them on the subway, in
school and on the street;
anywhere you go, you’re surely
bound to meet:
– Lori Morgan
My Digital Life (iPod)
This is the sound of my
digital life,
iPod, iPod, iPod.
Waking or sleeping my heart
still beating,
iPod, iPod, iPod.
The blue sky is light, the dark of
the night,
ipOd, ipOd, ipOd.
My view is a movie set to a
sound track,
ipoD, ipoD, ipoD.
For this is the sound of my
digital life.
– Daniel Cumming
Victoria, British Columbia,
Canada
Oh my ipod is like part of
my bod.
Whenever I think of life without
my ipod I start to drift and nod.
My ipod is a fresh as newly
laid sod
Don’t mistake this ipod for some
flaky piece of cod
Because to me, my ipod is my
God!
The iPod people everywhere
- listening to their tunes
white cables running to their
ears, dancing through
these rooms
So what is this obsession that’s
sweeping every town?
Why always take it with you &
never put it down?
And then they let you hold it,
and you surely know:
All my music with me, always on
the go...
Of course! It’s just too perfect,
the Apple of my eye!
The only problem is: Which
model should I buy?
– Adrian Thomas
Germany
iPod is haiku
the world in an idea
condensed and happy
– J. L. Heath
Laramie, Wyoming
Give me an iPod,
so I can Rock N Roll,
I may be an Old Sod,
But I can still Nod,
Just call me bold
Even though I am old,
I am a Technology Wizard,
Deep down in my gizzard,
Music on the go,
I am in the know.
Rock, Country, Thrash, Rap
and Pop
I just can’t stop.
So give me an iPod,
and I am a music God!
I saw her from across the room
she had a sleek silver bod
oh yes my little silver mini ipod
she whispered in my ears
beautiful music to behold
4 gigs of memory I was sold
For all my lost cd’s I
would scrounge
I had to get her
loaded ipodlounge
With so many playlists and on
the go’s to build
My thumbs would burn on the
clickwheel I would wield
In a frenzy I would try to fill her
memory fast
But how long would my
battery last
So many accessories to shop for
and buy
Please bury me with my ipod
when I die.
– Tom Dhans
Everyone wants an iPod,
New, Exciting, and Fun....
Get One, Get One,
Run! Run! Run!!!
– Teresa Sheaffer
Swartz Creek, Missouri
‘Twas the night before
Christmas, my heart all aglow,
With a wish for one thing, a gift
white as snow;
My stocking was hung by the
chimney with care,
With just enough room for a
colorful square;
I climbed into bed but couldn’t
fall asleep,
So I counted those splendid
white things - No, not sheep!
I was dreaming of my iPod and
just where to dock it,
And praying I’d wake up with
10,000 songs in my pocket!
– Joe Maulbeck
– Jacquelynn Franklin
– A. Dhanekula
– Dan Roller
Las Vegas, Nevada
76
77
GALLERIES
CONTEST
Rhyme Gallery, continued
INDICES
GALLERIES
Index to Reviews
Index to Articles
Introducing iPodlounge, From Us and About Us
ipodlounge.com/aboutus.php
my son says hey mom for my
bday I would like an ipod
huh- what is it- I must be such
a clod
but because I love him I search
and find
and the descriptions blow
my mind
I would love to have one of my
very own
but my budget I have blown
for I could only afford one
and that is for my very
special son
– Sandy Umber
Springdale, Arizona
iWant My iPod
Joy jolly good folly,
An iPod I must have this Holi.
I’ll jingle jeer and jumpily jump
jump,
To every beat that thumpily
thump thump.
Yippy ki yi yay,
I’ll sleep with my iPod everyday.
I’ll cradle it in my arms with care,
The sum of serene sounds that
we’ll share.
Holy happily-hap happy,
Uh oh, a rhyming scheme
gone sappy.
There is nothing more I want
to say,
All I want is just to press play.
– Kevin Scott Fogelson
Ode to my iPod
Oh how I love my Pod
It has become a part of my bod
No matter the type of music
or band
I hear my music on demand
From pop to rap to rock
I listen while I walk around
my block
The technology is so cool
All the Podless have to drool
I am so thankful to have my Pod
and all the accessories that keep
me mod!
– Heather Simone
iPod shmypod it’s mypod iPod!
iPod your life
– Jordan E. Lateiner
– FreeBird00000001
“Shadow”
MY POD
YOUR POD
OUR POD
I POD
MY iPod
– Lorie Bratten
How do I feel?
It feels so real
Hipping and Hopping
And making me feel
Music in my ears
And a skip to my walk
Listening to my iPod
Makes me walk the talk
– Peggy Miller
Crowley, Louisanna
iPod, Upod, Theypod, WeAllPod!
– Joseph Kershenbaum
iPod uPod wePod Now
Intense Pleasure, Lyrical Tao
hisPod herPod theirPod Dance
Ears Caught in Musical Trance
thisPod thatPod allPods Mix
Music Played, Just a Few Clicks
onePod morePods newPod
This Harmonizing Hot Rod
Praise, Glory, I Laud
yourPod, myPod, the iPod
– Charlene Kemmerer
My ipod is my closest friend
We’ll stick together till the
very end
Flying coast to coast up in
the sky
Up in the air, way up high.
And on the ground both far
and near
Between us two, no one
can hear.
– Kim Davis
Savage, Minnesota
Me and my ipod
Strolling down the avenue
Me and my ipod
All alone and play’n the blues
I’ll always back you up, you never
let me down
I’ll never tire of you, you’re always
there for me.
You sooth my soul in sweet
clarity
Just me and my ipod
All alone and play’n the blues
– Eilene Nicoll
(sing to the melody of “It’s the
end of the World” by R.E.M.)
That’s great, it starts with a
square box, cords and docks
and manuals...
Giga-bytes available.
I see a sticker, “don’t steal music,”
peel it off and plug it in, more
tunes - more tunes.
Calendar, contacts, backlight,
suffle play, on the go, hear
a book,
rate it well, take a look.
Firewire, click wheel, chrome
back, pearl face, put it in a, put
it in
a, put it in a case.
Offer me a warranty so I can
sleep at night knowing my
Pod’s fine.
It’s the end of CD’s as we know
it... (3x)
and iDon’t mind ;)
– Michael B. Stuart
This rhyme in the guide for the
iPodlounger crew
With the beats from the iPod
that are on track two.
Keep the 40 gig hard drive
spinnin’ like the click wheel,
You can keep the headphones
on throughout e-v-e-r-y meal.
If its 1st gen or 4th, or
multicoloured mini,
You can run with your tunes to
keep yourself skinny.
No matter what your iPod, the
accessories are there,
Fm transmitters, docking
stations, even cases that feel like
a teddy bear.
What you listen to is up to you
to choose,
But this rhyme’s like rap coz it’s
just here to amuse.
– Matt Clark
Perth, Australia
Music lovers rejoice today, for
the freedom of music is hear to
stay.
Whether mini or 3rd or 4th
generation, ipod mania has hit
the nation.
USB or firewire lets you connect
and Apple has the iPod you
need to get.
Any kind of music you want to
hear, a click hear a click there
your music appears.
The clarity you get is so crystal
clear, the music in abundance
that you have so near.
the iPodlounge where iPodders
unite, a place of information for
the iPods delight.
– Alberto Crespo
Breaking News
ipodlounge.com/ipodnews.php
The iPodlounge Gear Guide
ipodlounge.com/gearguide.php
Buyers’ Guide 2004
ipodlounge.com/reviews.php
Beginner’s Guide to iPod
A Brief History of iPod
ipodlounge.com/articles_more.php?id=4280_0_8_0_M
Backstage at iPodlounge
backstage.ipodlounge.com
iPods Around the World, and other Galleries
gallery.ipodlounge.com
gallery.ipodlounge.com/ipod/index.php?cat=3
iPod 101 & 201
ipodlounge.com/articles.php
Help! at iPodlounge
ipodlounge.com/faqs.php
ipodlounge.com/tips.php
ipodlounge.com/links.php
Joining the Discussion Forums
ipodlounge.com/forums
Free and Shareware iPod Software Catalog
ipodlounge.com/downloads.php
Index to Advertisers
Belkin
Innopocket
LiliPod
Macally
Marware
MIGO
Other World Computing
Otterbox
Pacific Rim Technologies
Speck
STM
Tekkeon
Vaja
81
74
15
8
2
72
9
13
75
14
68
55
82
Simply click on any name to read iPodlounge.com’s full review.
Altec Lansing inMotion iM3
Altec Lansing inMotion iMmini
Apple iPod (Fourth-Generation)
Apple iPod mini
Belkin Auto Kit
Belkin Digital Camera Link
Belkin Media Reader
Belkin TuneCast II
Belkin Voice Recorder
BTI iPod Battery
BTI iPod Battery ii
Contour Design Showcase 3G
Contour Design Showcase 4G
Dension Icelink 1.1
DLO Action Jacket
DLO New TransPod FM
Eroch LiliPod
Etymotic ER-4
Future Sonics Model EM3
Griffin iTalk
Griffin iTrip
Griffin iTrip mini
Griffin RadioSHARK
Griffin RoadTRIP
iLeath Mini Print Case
iSkin mini
JBL OnStage
Lajo eXoflp
Lajo eXoFLP mini
Marware CEO Glove 3G
Marware SportSuit Convertible mini
Matias iPod Armor
Matias iPod Armor mini
Monster iCarPlay
Otterbox oPod
Pacific Rim iCradle
Pacific Rim 4gShield
Power Support Crystal Jacket
Power Support Silicone Jacket 4G
Power Support Square Type Silicone Jacket
Sennheiser MX500 & PMX60
SendStation PocketDock Line Out
Sena Detachable Flip Cover
Shure E2c
Shure E3c
SiK din/imp
Sony MDR-EX70/71
Speck Products Mini Flip Stand
STM Cocoon
Teski Roadie
Tunewear Prie
Ultimate Ears UE5c
Ultimate Ears UE10 Pro
Vaja iVod 3G
Vaja iVod mini
78
79
GALLERIES
FINALE
Closing the Curtain. As the year and this Buyers’ Guide come to an
end, a few partisan parting thoughts from the Editors of iPodlounge.
��
When the full history of the iPod is eventually written - and assuming that we’re
not the ones who write it - there’s a good chance that historians will omit a very
significant part of the story: Apple’s competition.
Entering the digital music business with no ties to record labels, an marginal
history with handheld electronic devices (remember the Newton?), and the weight
of nearly a decade of ass beating by Microsoft’s Windows operating system, Apple
was popularly thought to be more than an underdog. By all accounts, it was on a
suicide mission.
��
By the time the iPod was introduced in late 2001, Korean, Chinese and Singaporean
companies had already been selling cheaper MP3 players with all sorts of nifty
features. Japanese companies for the most part were steering clear of MP3 devices
in favor of standard CD- and DVD-based products, and American companies were
focusing largely on selling CDs or popularizing MP3-related software and peer-topeer networks.
It was just assumed that Sony, Microsoft, or a similarly huge company could or
would eventually come in and take over the digital music sector. Everyone
remembered Sony’s Walkman and PlayStation brands, but no one focused on
Betamax, Video Walkman, Memory Stick, or the many other Sony inventions
that had never quite taken off. Similarly, though no one really loved Microsoft or
Windows, virtually everyone figured them to be the eventually unbeatable Jason
Voorhees or Freddy Kruegers of technology. In this climate, members of the media
thought it inconceivable that Apple would popularize an expensive digital music
device, develop best-of-class software to support it, or make it fully compatible
with PCs, let alone all three.
But that’s what happened. Apple built the ties with record labels and
musicians that Sony already owned and Microsoft could easily have bought. Then
Apple continued to refine the iPod’s technology until every element of the
hardware was equal parts simple and cool - the very definition of elegance. Finally,
they reached out and marketed to a huge constituency of PC users - people who
were increasingly put off by terrible Microsoft software and equally mediocre
hardware from Microsoft’s partners. The pitch eventually spread by word of mouth:
the iPod might be more expensive, but you’ll love it, unlike that cheap defective
junk you’ve been buying and hating.
Apple’s skill was compounded by luck - and momentum. Sluggish juggernauts
such as Sony and Microsoft were too busy or myopic to realize the growing
importance of legal digital music downloads until the iPod and iTunes were already
steamrolling all competitors. In typical Sony fashion, that company tried to hawk
overpriced music players that only played music in a proprietary Sony format no
one used. And in typical Microsoft fashion, that company first allowed its partners
to release numerous mediocre and somewhat compatible music devices, then tried
to change the subject and tell people they really wanted personal video players,
not music players.
The last two years have been fantastic for Apple, and not for lack of
competition, media skepticism, or public hesitance to throw off the yoke of
established music and technology giants. The iPod has become the industry’s
dominant player because of its dedicated fans.
iPodlounge owes our readers a similar debt. So from all of us at iPodlounge, thank
you, and may your holidays be filled with peace, happiness, and music.
80
��
��
��
��
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��
��
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��

iPodlounge Buyers` Guide 2004

Transcription

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